Wyndham Clark Leads BMW Championship at 17-Under After Round 3 Rally

Q: Can Rory McIlroy's aggressive Sunday strategy dismantle Wyndham Clark's massive five-shot lead at the treacherous Green Monster?

Yes — McIlroy has a realistic path, but only if he goes low early and forces Clark into mistakes. The case for McIlroy is straightforward. He shot 64 and 65 earlier in the week, said Bellerive is “a better place to chase” because players can be aggressive, and he will play directly alongside Clark in the final pairing. On a long par-70 with two reachable par 5s and scoring chances like the drivable 11th, a hot start could cut the margin quickly. If McIlroy gets to 3 or 4 under through the middle of the round, the five-shot gap can suddenly feel much smaller. But the course also favors the leader if Clark stays composed. Bellerive, the “Green Monster of Ladue,” punishes loose swings with thick rough, water and deep bunkers, especially on the demanding closing stretch from 14 through 16. That makes reckless chasing dangerous. McIlroy’s best chance is controlled aggression: use driver when the hole invites it, attack the scorable spots, and avoid the big number that the course can produce. Clark’s position is strong for a reason. Even after a double bogey on the first hole Saturday, he answered with a 65, made an eagle and six birdies, and has already shown this season he can protect a five-plus-shot Sunday lead by winning the U.S. Open. If his putter remains as sharp as it was in the third round, McIlroy may need something like 64 or better. So the opportunity is there, but it depends less on all-out attack than on McIlroy applying sustained pressure while Clark finally blinks.

3 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · Aug 23

Clark closed Saturday alone atop the BMW Championship at 17-under after recovering from an opening-hole double bogey to shoot 5-under for the round.
An eagle and six birdies powered that rebound at Bellerive, where Clark briefly lost the lead to Gary Woodland before pulling clear.
McIlroy climbed six spots into a tie for second at 12-under with a 65, while Patrick Cantlay also sat five shots back entering Sunday.
Woodland faded to tied for fourth at 11-under after a par round, and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler remained well back in a tie for 15th at 5-under.
Only the top 30 in FedEx Cup standings after Sunday's final round advance to next week's Tour Championship, leaving bubble players such as Cantlay, Rickie Fowler and Justin Thomas under added pressure.