Wyndham Clark Takes Five-Shot Lead Into BMW Championship Final Round

Wyndham Clark will carry a five-shot lead into the final round of the BMW Championship after shooting a five-under-par 65 at Bellerive Country Club in St Louis. BBC Sport reported that the American reached 17 under through 54 holes, with Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay tied for second at 12 under.

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Clark's round began with a double bogey at the first hole, but he recovered with two birdies and an eagle at the eighth to play the front nine in two under. He then birdied four of five holes on the back nine before dropping a shot at the last. That sequence allowed him to extend his advantage despite the early setback.

McIlroy also carded a 65 after entering the day following a second-round 69 that had cost him the lead he held after the opening round. The Northern Irishman birdied four of his final six holes to reach 12 under. According to BBC Sport, McIlroy did not hit a fairway until the 10th hole, but said his short game helped keep the round together before his late run of birdies.

Cantlay joined McIlroy in second place by shooting 66. Americans Chris Gotterup and Gary Woodland were another stroke back at 11 under, while Collin Morikawa stood sixth at 10 under. South Korea's Im Sung-Jae was on nine under, with Maverick McNealy, Ryo Hisatsune, Eric Cole and JJ Spaun grouped at eight under.

Further down the leaderboard, Scotland's Robert MacIntyre and world number one Scottie Scheffler each shot 68 to finish among a group of eight players at five under. England's Aaron Rai and Matthew Fitzpatrick were at four under. Justin Rose posted a 73 to sit at one under, while Tommy Fleetwood's 74 left him two over for the championship.

Clark's five-stroke cushion establishes a clear target for the chasing group, but the tournament still has 18 holes to play. McIlroy acknowledged the size of the task after his third round, saying a major effort would be required to catch the leader. Cantlay begins alongside him on the same total, while Gotterup and Woodland remain one shot behind the pair as Clark attempts to convert his advantage in the final round.