Wyndham Clark overcame a lost five-shot lead to win the BMW Championship by three strokes at Bellerive Country Club on Sunday, finishing at 17 under par after a final-round level-par 70.
The US Open champion saw his overnight lead vanish during a tense final day, but responded with a three-birdie finish to secure his third PGA Tour victory of the season. Patrick Cantlay took solo second place, while Rory McIlroy ended in third, four strokes back.
Clark had previously won the CJ Cup Byron Nelson and the US Open earlier in the year. His victory at Bellerive came after he bogeyed three of his first 10 holes, opening the door for McIlroy and the chasing pack.
McIlroy Challenge and Late Drama
McIlroy made a bright start to his round with a birdie on the opening hole to exert pressure on Clark. The Northern Irishman continued his charge around the turn, recording three birdies across a four-hole stretch to move level with his playing partner.
The pair remained tied for the lead with three holes remaining. However, McIlroy's chances ended on the 17th hole, where a costly bogey dropped him out of contention. Clark then capped his round with three late birdies to pull clear of the field.
Gary Woodland, Collin Morikawa and Chris Gotterup finished in a share of fourth place. Woodland suffered a major setback during his front nine when he topped his tee shot on the ninth hole.
Playoff Structure and Venue Background
The BMW Championship is the second of three events in the PGA Tour's FedExCup Playoffs, which determine the tour's season champion. Bellerive Country Club, located in Town and Country, Missouri, near St. Louis, previously hosted major tournaments including the 1965 US Open and the 2018 PGA Championship.
Clark won his first major title at the 2023 US Open at Los Angeles Country Club. McIlroy, a four-time major winner, was seeking his first PGA Tour victory of the closing stretch, while Cantlay is a former FedExCup champion who won the playoff title in 2021.
Season Finale at East Lake
Cantlay's second-place finish guaranteed his position in the field for next week's PGA Tour finale. The season reaches its climax at the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia.
Only the top 30 players in the FedExCup standings qualify for the Tour Championship. The remaining field will compete at East Lake for the FedExCup title and a 10 million dollar first prize.
