Rory McIlroy set for frosty two-day pairing with PGA Tour pro at BMW Championship

Rory McIlroy will join Wyndham Clark for the first two rounds at the BMW Championship, a player that called him out at last year's Ryder Cup.

Andy Roberts

22 Aug 2024

Rory McIlroy is set for an awkward two-day pairing with Wyndham Clark at this week's BMW Championship at Castle Pines GC.

Clark, 30, famously called out McIlroy, 35, on the eve of last year's Ryder Cup by telling Golf Channel 'I like to think I am better than him'.

A number of ardent PGA Tour fans stifled a laugh at such a bold claim.

NEW: Why Wyndham Clark was justified with Rory McIlroy complaint: "I was pretty bummed"

The American, who did say he had the 'utmost respect' for McIlroy, admitted he wanted to go up against the European Ryder Cup hero in the Singles in Rome, but that didn't play out.

Clark did, however, go on to team up with Patrick Cantlay to defeat McIlroy and Matt Fitzpatrick 1up in the Saturday Fourballs.

The ending of their match descended into complete chaos when Cantlay drained a long birdie putt that ultimately won the match.

Cantlay's caddie Joe LaCava, who previously looped for Tiger Woods, then got in the face of McIlroy as he was lining up his own birdie putt on the 18th green and it then all kicked off.

Live From just showed this angle of LaCava on the 18th green in Rory’s kitchen as he prepared for his birdie putt. Definitely right in Rory’s way. pic.twitter.com/NcBAILHBcJ
— Shane Bacon (@shanebacon) September 30, 2023

An argument then broke out in the car park.

McIlroy went on to rebound in his Sunday Singles match against Sam Burns (3&1), while Clark went on to lose 2&1 to Bob MacIntyre.

Europe ran out convincing 16.5-11.5 winners.

McIlroy top scored for the week with 4 points from 5, while Clark took 1.5 points from 3.

Clark admitted during the Ryder Cup that his comments about McIlroy were 'taken out of context'.

Rory McIlroy and Wyndham Clark are playing together for the first two rounds at the BMW Championship. Who is the better player?
— GolfMagic (@GolfMagic) August 22, 2024

As it stands, McIlroy is ranked third in the world, while Clark is fifth.

McIlroy leads Clark by some 2.5 points in the Official World Golf Ranking on the eve of this week's penultimate FedEx Cup event.

Clark is sixth in the FedEx Cup standings heading into the BMW Championship, one spot behind McIlroy in fifth.

Scottie Scheffler is a runaway leader in the FedEx Cup race, but he can be caught by Xander Schauffele this Sunday night.

A lot needs to go Schauffele's way though.

Clark has won just three times on the PGA Tour, highlighted by a US Open title in 2023, while McIlroy has won 26 times on the PGA Tour including four major titles.

McIlroy and Clark get their first round underway at the BMW Championship at 1.10pm local time on Thursday.

That is 6.10pm for UK fans.

They then join up again for the second round at 11am local time on Friday.

Clark will no doubt fancy his chances of performing better than McIlroy this week as a result of him playing on home turf in Colorado.

The total prize money on offer this week is $20m, meaning the winner will scoop a whopping $4m.

GolfMagic has listed below the full first round and second round tee times at the 2024 BMW Championship.