{
  "id": 2661756,
  "title": "McIlroy improves to go joint-second as Clark retains lead",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/mcilroy-improves-to-go-joint-second-as-clark-retains-lead",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-22T22:19:28.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "BBC Sport",
    "slug": "bbc-sport",
    "url": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/articles/c0m7mrp9pd7o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On day three of the BMW Championship, Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland improved his round to a five-under 65, moving him into joint-second place on the leaderboard. The 26-year-old Northern Irishman had started the day two shots behind leader Wyndham Clark of the United States, who shot a 65 on the front nine but double-bogeyed the first hole, leaving him five shots clear at Bellerive Country Club.\n\nMcIlroy birdied four of the last six holes to climb to second place on 12 under par, while American Patrick Cantlay tied McIlroy at 12 under with a 66. Clark's lead was extended to five shots after he birdied twice and hit an eagle on the eighth hole, finishing at -17 overall.\n\nThe home duo of Chris Gotterup and Gary Woodland sit at -11, while compatriot Collin Morikawa is at -10. South Korean Sung-Jae Im is one shot back at -9, followed by England's Aaron Rai and Matthew Fitzpatrick at -8.\n\nThe final group of eight players all finished at -15, with Scotland's Robert MacIntyre and American world number one Scottie Scheffler leading the way. England's Justin Rose struggled with a 73, leaving him at -1 going into the final day, while Tommy Fleetwood's 74 put him at +2.",
  "summary": "Rory McIlroy strikes a five-under 65 to move joint-second on day three at the BMW Championship.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}