Wyndham Clark holds off McIlroy and Cantlay to capture BMW Championship for 3rd win this year

St. Louis (AP) — Wyndham Clark emerged victorious in the final round of the BMW Championship, winning his third title of the year on Sunday. The final round produced tense drama as Clark trailed late leader Rory McIlroy by five strokes. However, Clark fought back with an even-par 70, sealing a three-shot victory at Bellerive. His success follows two prior wins this season, solidifying his position as a contender for PGA Tour player of the year.

Clark's win is particularly notable considering one of the other victories was at a major championship and the other a FedEx Cup playoff event. However, the road to victory was far from easy, as Clark lost a five-shot lead to McIlroy in just 11 holes. With no birdies throughout the round, McIlroy and Clark found themselves tied heading into the final hour.

McIlroy missed a chance to regain the lead on the par-5 17th hole when he bogeyed after a poor shot from the rough, bunker, and bunker. Clark capitalized on the mistake with another birdie, finishing the tournament with a record-breaking third straight birdie for style points. Clark's final score of 17-under 263 firmly established him as one of the world's best golfers, earning him praise for his remarkable performance.

Patrick Cantlay, who entered the tournament ranked 43rd in the FedEx Cup, demonstrated his own resilience throughout the competition. Cantlay bounced back from multiple bogeys with birdies, closing with three in a row for a 68. His runner-up finish places him among the top 30 players in the FedEx Cup standings who will advance to the Tour Championship next week.