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08/22 17:38 CDT Wyndham Clark pulls away for 5-shot lead at Bellerive over
McIlroy and Cantlay
Wyndham Clark pulls away for 5-shot lead at Bellerive over McIlroy and Cantlay
By DOUG FERGUSON
AP Golf Writer
ST. LOUIS (AP) --- Wyndham Clark lost the lead with a double bogey on the first
hole and then left everyone in his wake Saturday at Bellerive, making five
birdies and an eagle in an eight-hole stretch and finishing with a 5-under 65
to build a five-shot lead in the BMW Championship.
It was the second time this year Clark has led by at least five shots going
into the final round. He had a six-shot advantage at the U.S. Open and held on
to win by one for his second major.
Rory McIlroy ran off three straight birdies late in the round and saved par
from a bunker on the 18th for a 65. Patrick Cantlay birdied the 18th for a 66.
They were tied for second, a position far more relevant to Cantlay. He is at
No. 43 in the FedEx Cup and needs a high finish to be among the top 30 who
advance to the FedEx Cup finale next week in Atlanta.
"That's a lot to make up," McIlroy said of his deficit. "But if I focus on
myself, try to shoot a good score --- I shot a 64 and a 65 this week --- shoot
something similar tomorrow, you never know."
Gary Woodland, trying to cap off his remarkable year with a return to the Tour
Championship, only managed two birdies in a round of 70. He was six shots
behind, perhaps too far back to challenge Clark but high enough to extend his
season another week. He was tied with Chris Gotterup (68).
Clark was bogey-free through 36 holes and only once was under serious stress of
making a par. But he pulled his tee shot into gnarly rough on the opening hole,
hit the next one into the right rough, came up short of the green and missed a
7-foot putt to take double bogey.
Just like that, he was one shot behind Woodland. They were tied when the crowd
erupted for Woodland's 15-foot birdie putt on the par-4 seventh. Clark followed
with a 10-foot birdie, and that was the start of a one of those hot streaks
where Clark looks like he can't miss.
He hit a 5-wood to 12 feet for eagle on the par-5 eighth. He holed a 30-foot
birdie putt on the 10th, another birdie on the 11th from about 15 feet. And
then he made a pair of birdie putts from the 12-foot range on the 13th and 14th
to start pulling away.
"You start seeing the lines and you're so much more committed" Clark said of
his putting. "You're like, ?OK, that's exactly it.' And then you just stroke it
and the ball goes in."
Clark is going for his third win this year, which would put him in the
conversation for PGA Tour player of the year with his major championship.
Otherwise, Sunday is a matter of who gets to East Lake in Atlanta, where all 30
players only have to win to claim the FedEx Cup and the $10 million payoff.
Justin Thomas took a step back with a 71, leaving him in a tie for 15th.
Sungjae Im shot 70 and was alone in seventh. He can't afford to fall any
farther down the leaderboard if he wants to keep alive his streak of being at
East Lake every year dating to his rookie season in 2019.
Sunday also is the cutoff to get the six automatic spots on the Presidents Cup.
Clark is likely a lock even without moving into the top six spots. Ben Griffin
shot a 68 but was still tied for 35th, jeopardizing his chances of being on the
U.S. team at Medinah next month. Cantlay is too far back to be an automatic
qualifier, but getting to East Lake goes a long way toward being an easy pick.
"I feel like my game's in a good spot and ready to go shoot a low one
tomorrow," Cantlay said.
Scottie Scheffler shot 68 and was tied for 15th, 12 shots out of the lead.
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