Wyndham Clark's 7-Stroke Lead Enters Final Round at BMW Championship
Wyndham Clark has built a commanding 7-stroke lead at the BMW Championship, entering the final round with a strong chance of claiming the title.
Clark's impressive performance saw him card a superb round of 65, bouncing back from an opening-hole double bogey to fire six birdies and an eagle on eight. He will enter the final day on 17-under, joined in the final pair by Rory McIlroy on 12-under.
The American's hot streak to score Saturday's joint best round was all the more remarkable given how his day began. Clark botched an ambitious shot from the lip of a fairway bunker and badly misjudged the green for a double-bogey on one. "It was an unfortunate break… probably should have just chipped out and played for bogey," he said.
Clark quickly regained the joint lead with Gary Woodland, his birdie putt just wobbling in on four, before a superb wedge from deep rough for birdie on seven. An eagle on eight from a pinpoint iron and 12-foot putt gave Clark a three-stroke cushion.
Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy surged into joint second, carding an entertaining 65 despite finding just four fairways all day. He had birdied the par-three third and escaped a wayward drive on eighth with a par after somehow bulldozing his second shot straight through both a tree and a bunker. "Playing this golf course from the rough isn't fun. But I hung in there. My short game saved me a couple of times," said McIlroy.
Patrick Cantlay joined McIlroy in second place after a round of 66, which included a birdie on the 18th hole. Gary Woodland and Chris Gotterup were a further stroke back, at 11-under, followed by Collin Morikawa.
World number one Scottie Scheffler's hopes of an improbable comeback vanished after he handed two shots back with back-nine bogeys, finishing on five-under par after a 68. "I think you can be aggressive here," said McIlroy.
The final round of the BMW Championship promises to be an exciting one, with Clark's 7-stroke lead setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion. Clark's hot streak and McIlroy's aggressive play will make for an intriguing matchup as the two players battle it out for the title. The winner will enter the final field of 30 for the season-ending Tour Championship, taking place next week in Atlanta, Georgia.
Source: Yahoo Sports