St. Louis, August 23, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Akshay Bhatia remained in the Top-15 at the BMW Championship after carding an even-par 70 in the third round, keeping him on course for a place in the season-ending TOUR Championship, while fellow Hero-supported golfers Aaron Rai and Sahith Theegala are set to exit the FedExCup Playoffs.
Bhatia made two birdies and two bogeys at Bellerive Country Club to sit tied 15th on the leaderboard. He is also projected to remain 15th in the FedExCup standings. Only the top 30 players after the BMW Championship will qualify for the TOUR Championship in Atlanta.
Rai produced a four-under 67 to move into a tie for 23rd, but is projected to fall to 39th in the FedExCup standings. Theegala carded a three-under 68 and is tied 45th, with his projected position at 49th. Both face an uphill task to break into the top 30.
Bhatia is currently the only one among the three projected to advance to Atlanta.
At the top, Wyndham Clark took control of the tournament with a spectacular recovery from an opening-hole double bogey. The defending US Open champion closed with a five-under 65 and carries a five-shot lead into the final round.
Clark responded to his early setback with five birdies and an eagle over an eight-hole stretch. After finding trouble off the tee on the first, he quickly recovered with a birdie on the seventh and then produced an eagle at the par-five eighth by hitting a five-wood to 12 feet.
He added a 30-foot birdie putt on the 10th before picking up further shots on the 11th, 13th and 14th to surge clear.
Rory McIlroy shot 65 and Patrick Cantlay 66 to share second place, five shots behind Clark. McIlroy closed with three consecutive birdies but had to make a crucial par save from a bunker on the 18th.
Gary Woodland, seeking a return to the TOUR Championship, is tied fourth with Chris Gotterup after a 70, six shots off the lead.
Scottie Scheffler carded a 68 to join Justin Thomas, who shot 71, in a tie for 15th. Sungjae Im remained seventh after a 70 and will need another strong round to preserve his record of qualifying for the TOUR Championship every season since his 2019 rookie campaign.
Sunday will also determine the six automatic qualification spots for the US Presidents Cup team. Clark appears well placed to secure one of them, while Ben Griffin’s 68 left him tied 35th and under pressure to earn an automatic berth.
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