The 2012 BMW Championship began Thursday morning at Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel, Ind., and low scores are abound. A four-way tie for first at 5-under early on features Ian Poulter, Bo Van Pelt, Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods.

Texan and Texas A&M alumnus Ryan Palmer is at 4-under through nine holes, while San Antonio native and Baylor grad Jimmy Walker is at 4-under through 12 holes.

Those two lead a group of Texans still alive in the FedEx Cup playoffs. Colleyville resident Hunter Mahan is at 2-under through nine, and fellow Colleyville resident Greg Chalmers is at even par through six.

University of Texas alumnus Bob Estes is 1-over through eight holes, one of only 10 golfers in the 70-man field to be over par so far Thursday.

After the BMW Championship, the top 30 in FedEx Cup points advances to the TOUR Championship from Sept. 20-23 in Atlanta. McIlroy enters the BMW Championship with a commanding lead in the FedEx Cup standings.

Head over to Golf.com for a complete leaderboard.

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