Monday, August 24, 2026 Balls & Bogeys Golf News Edition
Photo: IMAGN IMAGES / Reuters
‘Darth Vader had more fun’: Wyndham Clark embraces villain role after BMW Championship win
Per Paul Hodowanic / PGATOUR.com: “Wyndham Clark was not the fan favorite this week at Bellerive Country Club. Nor was he the crowd’s choice at Shinnecock Hills two months ago at the U.S. Open.
Whether it was the big leads he took into both, the fact that the chasers in the tournaments were Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, the betting implications, or the residual negative feelings toward Clark’s past behavior, Clark has emerged from each as the villain.”
B&B POV: Wyndham Clark is golf’s favorite villain (outside of Bryson)—fiery, prickly, and occasionally his own worst PR department. But the golf? Outstanding. Now with three wins in 2026, including the U.S. Open and yesterday’s BMW Championship, a $3.6M payday, and finishing No. 3 in the FedExCup points race. Well done.
Photo: Chris Trotman/LIV Golf
Michael La Sasso wins LIV finale, for this season and likely LIV as we know it
Per Brentley Romine / Golf Channel: “LIV Golf’s fifth season – and by every indication LIV as we know it – wrapped on Sunday evening in Indianapolis.
Rookie Michael La Sasso, just over seven months removed from leaving Ole Miss midway through his senior season as the reigning NCAA individual champion, got up and down for birdie on his final hole to push ahead of Jon Rahm and win LIV Golf – Indianapolis for his first professional title.”
B&B POV: “The LIV season has officially ended. No matter what happens next with the imploding circuit, we want to see the best players on the planet face off more often next year. TGL, DP World Tour events, heck, even Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf – we’ll watch any competitions featuring Rory, Scottie, Rhambo, The Mad Hatter, and that guy who’s the best golfer on YouTube.”
Photo: Getty Images
Winners, Losers & Payouts: Wyndham Clark Wins the 2026 BMW Championship and Shakes Up the FedExCup
Per Chris Lohman / Balls & Bogeys: “Wyndham Clark had a five-shot lead heading into Sunday at Bellerive Country Club.
Naturally, he decided to make things interesting. Clark watched that massive advantage disappear, briefly found himself in a real dogfight with Patrick Cantlay and Rory McIlroy, and appeared to be flirting with the kind of Sunday collapse that makes for great television and terrible golf.
Then he remembered he was “2026 Wyndham Clark” and not just Wyndham Clark.”
BMW Championship 2026 prize money payouts:
- Wyndham Clark, -17, $3,600,000
- Patrick Cantlay, -14, $2,160,000
- Rory McIlroy, -13, $1,360,000
Photo: Getty Images
What’s In The Bag: Wyndham Clark’s Winning Setup
Per Thomas Hamden / Balls & Bogeys:
UPDATE: Wyndham Clark Has Tweaked His U.S. Open-Winning Bag
Wyndham Clark’s equipment setup helped him win the 2026 U.S. Open, but apparently even a major championship-winning bag can use a little tinkering. Since his victory at Shinnecock Hills, Clark has made some notable changes to the top end of his setup—and then promptly put the new configuration to work by winning the BMW Championship.
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (10.5°)
Putter: Ping Scottsdale TEC Ally Blue Onset
Click to View Wyndham’s Full Bag >
Photo: IMAGN IMAGES / Reuters Connect
2026 Tour Championship Betting Preview: Picks, Predictions, Odds for East Lake
Per Iain MacMillan / SI: “The 2026 PGA Tour season finale is this week, as the top 30 golfers in the FedEx Cup Playoffs will head to East Lake Golf Club for the Tour Championship.
In case you forgot, the days of teach golfer starting with a certain score based on their standing are gone. Now, everyone will be on an even playing field when they tee off on Thursday. Tommy Fleetwood won last year’s Tour Championship, which remains his only win on North American soil.”
B&B POV: This year, the Tour Championship will be played like a normal PGA TOUR event. Unlike the last handful of Tour Championships, where the top FedExCup points earners had a head start (starting as much as 10 under) compared to those who entered the tourney further down the points list, this year’s event makes sense. Tee it up for four rounds, and let the best rich guy win. In addition to Scheff, our top picks for Eastlake: Sam Burns (+1800), Wyndham Clark (+1800), and Chris Gotterup (+2200).
LESSON OF THE WEEK
5 Reasons Wyndham Clark Is An Elite Ball Striker
Wyndham Clark has always been capable of producing ridiculous golf shots. But in 2026, his ball striking has become a much bigger part of the story. The two-time U.S. Open champion has paired his elite power with a more repeatable swing and a clearer understanding of how to control the clubface—work that has come under new PGA swing coach Pat Coyner.
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