Wyndham Clark's promising five-stroke lead at the BMW Championship evaporated Sunday, leading to renewed attention on his pre-round comments about his girlfriend, Emily Tanner.
Clark had appeared in firm control of the tournament after Saturday's round, a position amplified by the news that he was moving in with Tanner. In a post-round media availability, Clark described Tanner's presence as beneficial.
"Fortunately, I've got a great girlfriend I can hang out with. And she distracts me, and keeps me from worrying about what's going on, and I stay in the present. So she helps a lot," Clark stated, as reported by Chris McKee.
This sentiment was interpreted at the time as a positive, indicating Tanner helped him maintain focus by offering a welcome diversion from tournament pressures. However, by Sunday afternoon, Clark had faltered, going 4 over par for the day and relinquishing his lead. He found himself tied with Rory McIlroy at 14 under par with only four holes remaining.
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The turn of events cast Clark's earlier remarks in a different light. If Tanner's presence indeed served as a distraction on Sunday morning, it did not yield the intended stabilizing effect on his performance. While the tournament is not yet concluded and Clark has opportunities to recover his position, the final round's outcome may prompt reflection on his preparation and the dynamics of his relationship with Tanner as a factor in his game.