Rory McIlroy 3rd at BMW After Sunday 69

Rory McIlroy finished third at the BMW Championship, 13 under after a 1-under 69, and the number that will follow him to East Lake is not the 267. It is the share of the lead with three holes to play that got away. The PGA Tour board has him 64-69-65-69. Wyndham Clark won at 17-under 263. Patrick Cantlay is second at 14 under. Sky Sports and Golfmagic both had McIlroy tying Clark late, then dumping the par-5 17th while Clark birdied 16, 17, and 18.

He started Sunday five back. Sky Sports had a two-shot swing on the 1st, Clark three-putting from 65 feet, McIlroy holing from 10 feet. McIlroy bogeyed the 4th, saved par from seven feet to avoid a second straight drop, then birdied the 8th and 9th and pulled even with a birdie on 11 after Clark bogeyed 10. They traded pars. Three holes left, tied. That is as close as it got.

Rory McIlroy BMW third: bogey on 17, Clark's three birdies

Clark's first birdie of the day was a 15-footer on 16, Sky Sports wrote. McIlroy went bunker to bunker on the par-5 17th and made six. Clark birdied that hole too. The lead went from nothing to more than enough. Clark poured in another 15-footer on 18. Even-par 70, 17 under, three clear of Cantlay, four clear of McIlroy. Wyndham Clark's winner recap is the 16-17-18 tape. McIlroy's tape is the chase that died in sand.

"Obviously a big improvement on last week," McIlroy told CBS, Golfmagic printed. "I don't think I can be too disappointed, I'm probably not playing well enough to be disappointed that I didn't win, but I had my chances on the back nine and started to hit some nice shots." Last week was solo 66th at the FedEx St. Jude Championship after a three-week break. Sunday was a 69 that had the lead in its hands. Different week. Same honest postgame.

East Lake next, and the quote on the 18th green

On the last green he told Clark, "Great character, that was awesome. Well done," Golfmagic reported. To CBS he added that he hit a lot of good putts that stayed out, and that Clark's birdie on 16 was huge. Sky Sports carried the longer self-scouting report: "I'm still not in a spot where I'm super happy with where my game is or where my swing is, so I just have to keep working on it. It's nice to know even when I'm not super happy with everything I can still piece it together and get it around and still give myself a chance to win tournaments."

Gary Woodland, Collin Morikawa, and Chris Gotterup tied for fourth at 12 under. Patrick Cantlay's solo second locked East Lake from 43rd in the FedEx Cup. McIlroy was already in that field. He is a three-time FedEx Cup champion hunting a fourth. Solo third at Bellerive is a ticket he already owned, and a Sunday he almost stole. 69. 13 under. Four back. The 17th is the hole.

Rory McIlroy BMW third FAQ

Where did Rory McIlroy finish at the BMW Championship? Solo third, at 13-under 267 after a Sunday 69, per the PGA Tour official board. Wyndham Clark won at 17 under. Patrick Cantlay was second at 14 under.

Did Rory McIlroy lead on Sunday at Bellerive? He tied Clark with three holes to play after birdies around the turn, Sky Sports wrote. He bogeyed the par-5 17th from bunker to bunker. Clark birdied 16, 17, and 18.

What did Rory McIlroy say after the 69? He told CBS he could not be too disappointed because he is not playing well enough to be crushed by not winning, per Golfmagic, and that Clark showed a lot of character on the last three holes.