Gutsy Wyndham Clark keeps Rory McIlroy at bay to clinch BMW Championship

Clark claimed his sixth PGA Tour title at Bellerive thanks to nerves of steel and a clutch finish that saw him birdie the final three holes.

The American started the day with a five-stroke lead over Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay. But his putts weren't dropping and three bogeys without a birdie in the opening ten holes saw his lead vanish.

Finally, on the par 3 16th, Clark came good. He followed McIlroy's brilliant tee shot with a 5-iron just as good. Clark drained his effort from just outside 15 feet, while McIlroy missed his 15-footer and they stayed tied.

Clark rallied to close with two more birdies while McIlroy bogeyed the 17th.

"I've kind of been the underdog in all of my wins," said Clark after posting his gutsy even-par 70.

"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. Three wins in one season is my best year yet - coming off my worst year ever. I'm just really pleased where I'm at right now."

For McIlroy, a closing 69 wasn't quite enough to end his win drought.

"I always felt like I needed to just get my nose ahead to really try to put the pressure on Wyndham, and I couldn't," McIlroy said after a 69 to finish third.

Earlier, Cantly bogeyed the 16th to fall out of contention, but finished strong, playing the final three holes in three under, to finish solo-second.

Clark is in third place in the FedEx Cup standings behind Scottie Scheffler and Matt Fitzpatrick as the PGA Tour heads to its finale at the Tour Championship at East Lake next week.