Hot mics catch classy Rory McIlroy comment to Wyndham Clark after BMW Championship win

Hot mics picked up Rory McIlroy praising Wyndham Clark's character after the American held off the Masters champion to claim his third win of the season at the BMW Championship.

Clark carried a five-shot lead into the final round of the second leg of the PGA Tour's playoffs at Bellerive Country Club, but his advantage disappeared with seven holes remaining as McIlroy mounted a late challenge.

The Northern Irishman had several opportunities to move in front of Clark, but was unable to convert them.  

Clark responded in emphatic fashion, closing out the victory with three consecutive birdies from the 16th hole to shut the door on McIlroy.

As the pair shook hands on the 18th green, McIlroy was heard telling his former Ryder Cup rival that his performance had been "awesome" to watch and praising him for showing "great character".

McIlroy's looper, Harry Diamond, also added: "Well done, pal."

The six-time major champion later expanded on those comments during an interview with Golf on CBS.

"I'm not playing well enough to be too disappointed to not win," McIlroy said.

"I had my chances, but Wyndham stepped up. The way he played the last three holes, he showed a lot of character."

McIlroy added: "I'm not in a spot where I'm super happy with where my game is or where my swing is. 

"So I just have to keep working on it. 

"But it's nice to know even when I'm not super happy with everything I can still, you know, piece it together and get it around and still give myself a chance to win tournaments."

As for Clark, the reigning U.S. Open champion claimed that he was "one of the best players in the world". 

"It was very stressful day," he said. "I just really didn't have my stuff mentally. 

"Not that my game was off, I just kind of wasn't focused and just was making some dumb mistakes. Didn't make any putts. 

"But I kept telling myself, hey, if you told me before the week with 10 holes to go I would have a one or two-shot lead, I would take it. 

"If I was tied with six holes to go, I would take it, regardless of what happened coming into the day. 

"I think that helped keep me in the moment. 

"Rather than being bummed, kind of look at it as an opportunity. 

"Then, fortunately, finally had a putt drop on 16 and then that propelled me to birdie the last two.

Clark distances himself from player of the year race

Clark's victory at the BMW Championship represented his third win of the season. 

He won the CJ Cup Byron Nelson in May and the U.S. Open in June at Shinnecock Hills. 

Should he now be considered as the leading candidate as the PGA Tour's player of the year?

"Obviously Scottie's the best player in the world right now," Clark said of Scheffler. "I don't really know. 

"Honestly, I didn't even think about it coming off such a terrible year. 

"Didn't even think about player of the year. 

"I was more just wanting to get back into contention, wanting to make it to East Lake. 

"And then I win, and win a major and then it's like, okay, now I want to make the Presidents Cup team.

"So, yeah, I mean, honestly, this has all come pretty quick, and I honestly hadn't really thought about it. 

"So hopefully that maybe is in the cards, but if not I'm just really pleased with how the year's gone."