Wyndham Clark recovered from an opening double bogey to shoot a 5-under 65 and build a five-shot lead after three rounds of the BMW Championship.

Clark reached 17-under at Bellerive Country Club, with Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay tied for second at 12-under. Gary Woodland and Chris Gotterup share fourth place, another shot behind.

It is the second time this year that Clark has carried a lead of at least five shots into a final round. He began the final day of the US Open six clear before winning by one stroke to claim his second major championship.

A third victory of the season would strengthen Clark’s case for PGA Tour Player of the Year, but his round on Saturday began with his first major mistake of the week.

Clark responds to early double bogey

Clark had played his first 36 holes without a bogey before pulling his opening tee shot into thick rough. His second shot also found the right rough, his approach finished short of the green and he missed a seven-foot putt for bogey.

The resulting double bogey briefly moved Woodland one shot ahead. Woodland then made a 15-foot birdie putt on the par-4 7th, but Clark answered from 10 feet to draw level and begin his run.

Clark hit a five-wood to 12 feet for eagle at the par-five eighth, then holed a 30-foot birdie putt on the 10th. Another birdie followed from about 15 feet at the 11th before he converted from around 12 feet on both the 13th and 14th.

That stretch produced five birdies and an eagle across eight holes, giving Clark a commanding advantage.

“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.”

McIlroy and Cantlay lead the pursuit

McIlroy made three consecutive birdies late in his round and saved par from a bunker at the 18th to match Clark’s 65. He has already posted rounds of 64 and 65 this week, although he faces a sizeable final-round deficit.

“That’s a lot to make up,” McIlroy said. “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.”

Cantlay closed with a birdie for a 66, keeping himself in contention for the title and a place in the Tour Championship. He entered the week 43rd in the standings and needs to climb inside the top 30 to qualify for next week’s Tour Championship in Atlanta.

“I feel like my game’s in a good spot and ready to go shoot a low one tomorrow,” Cantlay said.

Woodland, who is also trying to extend his season, made only two birdies in a level-par 70. His tie for fourth at 11-under would be enough to keep him in position for a Tour Championship place.

Atlanta and Presidents Cup places remain at stake

Justin Thomas slipped into a tie for 15th after a 71, while Scottie Scheffler shot 68 to join him at 5-under, 12 shots behind Clark. Sungjae Im is alone in seventh after a 70 and cannot afford to fall much farther if he is to preserve his run of reaching the Tour Championship every year since his 2019 rookie season.

Sunday also marks the cutoff for the six automatic places on the United States Presidents Cup team. The rankings are based on a weighted system using FedExCup points earned from January 1, 2025, through August 23, 2026.

Clark is considered secure for the team even if he does not move into an automatic position. Ben Griffin’s 68 left him tied for 35th and placed his qualification hopes under pressure, while Cantlay remains outside the automatic places. A strong finish and a place in Atlanta would improve Cantlay’s case for one of the six captain’s picks.

Related: Continent of Europe Complete Double at The Island with Jacques Leglise and Junior Vagliano Wins

A seventh straight Jacques Leglise Trophy and a nail-biting one-point Junior Vagliano win gave the Continent of Europe two trophies in one afternoon at The Island, with Elea Bastoni holing the decisive up-and-down on the 18th.

For the latest news in the golfing world, follow us on X.