Even after a devastating defeat, Rory McIlroy remained classy as ever.The Northern Irishman put up a thrilling fight in the final round of the BMW Championship but ultimately fell short as Wyndham Clark prevailed.McIlroy was at the top of the leaderboard after the first day but slowly fell awayGettyClark finished the competition 17-under-par, three strokes ahead of Patrick Cantlay and four in front of McIlroy.However, it was far from a straightforward victory for Clark.Having entered the final day with a five-shot lead, Clark watched it evaporate in real time as McIlroy pulled level with just seven holes remaining.Yet the two-time major winner saved his best golf for when he needed it most, producing three consecutive birdies to close out the tournament. View this post on Instagram What was Rory McIlroy’s classy gesture to Wyndham Clark?And McIlroy, who knows all too well about the mental fortitude required to close out a competition, had some special words of praise for Clark as they embraced on the 18th.“Great character,” McIlroy told Clark.“That was awesome, well done.”For Clark, victory at Bellerive continued what has been his most successful year on the Tour.The Colorado native scooped up the CJ Cup Byron Nelson before claiming the second major of his career in June at the US Open.Having now added the BMW Championship to his collection as well as $3.6million (£2.6m) in prize money, Wyndham feels comfortable enough to declare he is ‘one of the best players in the world.’Clark’s latest win has him up to third in the project FedExCup standingsGettyWyndham Clark’s reaction to winning the BMW Championship“It was weird – I wasn’t nervous but I was kind of out of it, making double bogeys,” Clark said.“I can’t believe I didn’t make anything on the greens. But I kept trying to get myself going.“I really started to swing free down the end. I was proud I didn’t let it get away and was mentally strong.“I’m one of the best players in the world. Everyone gives me a hard time and roots for other people, but I’ve come into my own. “It’s my best season yet coming off my worst year.”Clark will look to maintain the momentum at the Tour Championship at East Lake, which gets underway on August 27.The tournament, which does feature a cut, will be contested by the top 30 in the season-long standings, where the winner will take home $10m (£7.3m).