Rory McIlroy was left to settle for second place as Wyndham Clark produced a brilliant late finish to win the BMW Championship at Bellerive Country Club.

McIlroy had battled his way into contention throughout the weekend and entered the final round as one of the main challengers to Clark. After three rounds, the Northern Irishman had moved into the final pairing and looked capable of putting serious pressure on the leader.

Clark, however, held his nerve when it mattered most. After his five-shot advantage had been reduced, the American birdied each of the final three holes to regain control and claim a third victory of the season.

For McIlroy, it was another strong performance in the FedExCup Playoffs, but ultimately a frustrating one given how close he came to another big win. The four-time major champion had been particularly impressive in his turnaround at Bellerive, having started the tournament alongside Scottie Scheffler and initially struggled to make an impact.

The result also adds another chapter to the growing rivalry between McIlroy and Clark, with Clark now having beaten McIlroy in two major tournaments this season.

Clark’s victory sees him strengthen his position in the Player of the Year race, while McIlroy will now look ahead to the final stage of the FedExCup Playoffs.

For McIlroy, there was plenty of encouragement from a week in which he once again showed his ability to fight his way back into contention when the pressure was on.

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