Wyndham Clark holds a commanding five-stroke advantage at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis following the third round of the BMW Championship . While Clark sits at 17 under par,Rory McIlroy has surged into a tie for second place after implementing radical technical changes to his golf swing .
Wyndham Clark's 17-under par cushion at Bellerive
Wyndham Clark has established a significant lead heading into the final round of the BMW Championship. As reported by the source, Clark reached 17 under par after a resilient 5-under 65 on Saturday, which included an eagle on the eighth hole to offset an early double bogey.
The leaderboard shows a significant gap between the leader and the rest of the field. Following Clark , a group of contenders is attempting to close the distance:
- Wyndham Clark: 17 under par
- Rory McIlroy & Patrick Cantlay: 12 under par
- Chris Gotterup & Gary Woodland: 11 under par
- Collin Morikawa: 10 under par
The 45-degree Flat Cat grips and Florida training sessions
Rory McIlroy's recent resurgence is the result of a highly specific technical overhaul designed to correct poor habits. This recovery process began after a difficult week at the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis, where the Northern Irishman struggled with his form. According to the report, McIlroy returned to Florida to work with coach Michael Bannon and caddie Harry Diamond to rebuild his swing mechanics.
The technical adjustments involved unconventional training aids to ensure better arm structure.. McIlroy utilized a head cover under his right arm and employed custom-made clubs, specifiaclly a lob wedge and a 7-iron, fitted with Flat Cat putter grips. These grips were set at a 45-degree angle to force his right hand to remain on top of the club during the backswing, providing more precision and consistency.
McIlroy's struggle for fairways before a 4-under back nine
McIlroy's Saturday performance demonstrated both the volatility of his new technique and its potential rewards. He struggled significantly off the tee early in the day, failing to hit a single fairway until the 10th hole . However, he managed to stabbilize his score through a powerful short game and a strong finish on the back nine, where he played at 4 under par, highlighted by a 26-foot birdie putt on the 16th hole.
Statistical data suggests these adjustments are already yielding results in key areas. The report notes that McIlroy currently ranks sixth in both Putting and Tee-to-Green Strokes Gained, indicating that his ability to control the ball is returning even as he battles for fairway accuracy.
Can McIlroy overcome Clark's U.S. Open-winning composure?
The final round presents several critical questions regarding the outcome of the tournament. While McIlroy is in a strong position, it remains unverified whether his technical changes can withstand the intense pressure of a Sunday charge against a leader like Clark. Furthermore, the report does not clarify if the 45-degree grip setup is a permanent solution or a temporary corrective measure. Finally, it is unclear how much the presence of Patrick Cantlay, currently tied with McIlroy at 12 under, will influence the tactical approach of the chasing pack as they attempt to bridge the five-stroke gap.
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