Wyndham Clark found himself in a commanding position after Saturday’s performance at the BMW Championship, both on the greens and in life beyond the course.
With a five-stroke advantage, Clark was firmly in the driver’s seat as he prepared for Sunday’s decisive round. Additionally, news emerged that he is taking a big step forward personally, moving in with his girlfriend, Emily Tanner, which surely added to his celebratory mood.
Following his Saturday round, Clark addressed the press, opening up about his strategies for maintaining focus with such a significant lead going into Sunday.
“Thankfully, I have an amazing girlfriend who I can spend time with,” Clark mentioned, according to Chris McKee. “She keeps me grounded, diverting my mind away from any worries and helping me remain in the moment. She’s a huge help,” he added.
It’s clear that when Clark made these comments, he was saying his girlfriend was a distraction in a good sense.
Fast forward to Sunday afternoon and Clark’s five-stroke head has evaporated. He’s 4 over par on the day and was tied with Rory McIlroy for the lead at 14 under par with four holes left to play.
Therefore, if Tanner distracted Clark on Sunday morning, it didn’t have the intended effects.
There’s still time for Clark to right the ship, reclaim his lead and secure the BMW Championship. But if he doesn’t, Clark might have to think long and hard about what his pre-round preparation with Tanner entailed on Sunday and whether it warrants any changes.