ST. LOUIS — Wyndham Clark believes he is one of the best players in the world, and now at No. 5 in the Official World Golf Ranking, he has that statistical marker to buttress his claim. Whether he is the best player on the PGA Tour this year is determined by his peers, but Clark undoubtedly strengthened his case.
After relinquishing all of his five-stroke lead through 54 holes to reigning Masters champion Rory McIlroy, Clark summoned a reserve of resourcefulness to birdie the final three holes and post a three-stroke victory Sunday in the BMW Championship. The hard-fought win in the second leg of the FedEx Cup Playoffs tied Chris Gotterup and Matt Fitzpatrick for the tour lead with three wins this season, but Clark’s resume includes his second U.S. Open title in June at storied Shinnecock Hills.
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“I mean, obviously Scottie’s the best player in the world right now. I don’t really know,” Clark, 32, said when asked if he strengthened his candidacy for the Jack Nicklaus Award as PGA Tour Player of the Year. “Honestly, I didn’t even think about it coming off such a terrible year. Didn’t even think about player of the year. I was more just wanting to get back into contention, wanting to make it to East Lake. And then I win, and win a major and then it’s like, OK, now I want to make the Presidents Cup team.
“So, yeah, I mean, honestly, this has all come pretty quick, and I honestly hadn’t really thought about it. So hopefully that maybe is in the cards, but if not, I’m just really pleased with how the year’s gone.”
Well, he should be after a truly abysmal 2025 season that saw him fall in popularity as well as world rankings with poor play and his regrettable response to it. In rescuing a tournament that was slipping away, Clark showed real guts to scratch out an even-par 70 at Bellerive Country Club. He finished at 17-under 263 to collect $3.6 million and earn one of six automatic berths on the U.S. Presidents Cup team.
Patrick Cantlay, who equaled Clark’s fast finish with three straight birdies, rallied for a 68 to finish a stroke in front of McIlroy at 266. The popular Northern Irishman fell to third after a 69.
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For a while it looked like McIlroy might have the momentum to finish off Clark after he rolled in a nine-footer for his third birdie in four holes at the par-four 11th to forge a tie at 14 under par. The crowd was predominantly on McIlroy’s side, and Clark—who wasn’t the fan favorite at Shinnecock, either—was trying to shake off a mental fog that led to some desultory execution.
“Yeah, man, it was very stressful day. I just really didn’t have my stuff mentally,” the Colorado native conceded. “Not that my game was off; I just kind of wasn’t focused and just was making some dumb mistakes. Didn’t make any putts. But I kept telling myself, ‘Hey, if you told me before the week with 10 holes to go I would have a one- or two-shot lead, I would take it. If I was tied with six holes to go, I would take it, regardless of what happened coming into the day.’ I think that helped keep me in the moment. Rather than being bummed, kind of look at it as an opportunity.”
The duel with McIlroy turned in Clark’s favor at the long par-3 16th hole. After McIlroy parked a dart 15 feet below the hole, Clark responded with his own 5-iron a little more than 16 feet past the pin. Putting first, Clark rolled it in for his first birdie of the day. McIlroy, who had birdie looks on several holes on the inward nine, then missed. The gap widened at the par-5 17th when Clark guided another birdie putt home while McIlroy made a mess of things and bogeyed. A final birdie at 18 only shortened the length of time until Clark could celebrate.
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“I felt like most of my game held up today,” said McIlroy, who competed gamely while making repairs to his swing after finishing 66th at last week’s FedEx St. Jude Championship. “Obviously going out in the final group and you’re working on some stuff, you know, you’re just hoping that everything stays the way it is. But, yeah, I hit it well on the back nine. I gave myself plenty of chances. I just couldn’t get a putt to drop there those final few holes.”
Though he struggled after twice holding sizable 54-hole leads this year—he was up six at Shinnecock—Clark nonetheless was the winner in each playing in the final pairing with World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler at the U.S. Open and World No. 2 McIlroy on Sunday.
Who else has that on his Bingo card? Mighty impressive.
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James Gilbert
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“It’s hard to win. It’s obviously hard too when you’re up by five,” Clark said. “You feel like the only thing you can do is blow it, essentially, unless shoots something really low. What’s funny is I felt good with my swing, I just wasn’t hitting good shots. I was really proud of myself that I didn’t let it get away. Even though it seemed like it did, I was still mentally there and then finished strong.”
Clark can’t seem to find a crowd wholly in his corner, but he hopes that changes at the Presidents Cup at Medinah. “Yeah, if I don’t get love at the Presidents Cup, as a USA guy, then I don’t know, I might move to Mexico or something,” he said with a forced laugh.
The key thing is that he loves how his game has turned around this year. It’s been a good year—the best year of his career. Cheers are optional.
“I know everyone maybe gives me a hard time and roots for other people, but I feel like I’ve kind of come into my own,” he said. “Three wins in one season is my best year yet. Coming off my worst year ever. Yeah, I’m just really pleased where I’m at right now.”
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