ST. LOUIS — After opening the BMW Championship with 36 holes of bogey-free golf, Wyndham Clark finally stumbled with a double bogey on the first hole of Saturday’s third round.

It hardly slowed him down.

With a crowded leaderboard behind him to start the day at Bellerive Country Club, Clark responded with a 5-under 65 to take command of the championship and build a five-shot lead heading into Sunday’s final round.

“Well, I mean, I always sleep good. But it's more the angst when you wake up,” Clark said of holding the lead. “That's usually when I feel it. You wake up and you have that little pit in your stomach, you're excited to go play, and you wish you were teeing off right as you wake up so you didn't have to think about it. But it's also fun. That's kind of what we love as athletes and we chase after the moment, so I'm looking forward to it.”

The five-time PGA TOUR winner and two-time major champion followed opening rounds of 64-64 with Saturday’s 65 to reach 17-under par. His 54-hole total of 193 ties Jason Day (Conway Farms Golf Club, 2015) and Justin Rose (Aronimink Golf Club, 2018) for the lowest through three rounds in BMW Championship history.

After the opening double bogey, Clark quickly regained control, responding with a birdie on No. 4 before playing an eight-hole stretch in 7 under. He finished with six birdies and an eagle.

“I have way more control with my iron play. I'm starting to get a lot better off the tee,” Clark said. “I think mentally I'm way better. I actually think my putting's significantly better than even in 2023. So, yeah, I think overall my game, each year I feel like I get better.”

Clark is seeking to become the first player to win the U.S. Open and BMW Championship in the same season since Dustin Johnson in 2016. His best finish in four previous BMW Championship starts is a T13 in 2024.

Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay are Clark’s closest pursuers at 12-under par, five shots back entering the final round.

Gary Woodland, who began Saturday one shot behind Clark and played alongside him in the final pairing, is tied for fourth at 11 under with Chris Gotterup. Gotterup has posted rounds of 64-67-68 through three rounds at Bellerive.

Spectator gates open at 7 a.m. Sunday, with final-round tee times beginning at 8:06 a.m.