Challenging U.S. Open: Wyndham Clark’s Strong Performance
SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — At the U.S. Open, Shinnecock Hills presented tough conditions, yet Wyndham Clark showed remarkable resilience. He made crucial par saves as Scottie Scheffler started gaining momentum. Clark’s eagle on the par-5 16th, achieved with a fairway metal shot to 4 feet, led to an even-par 70 and a substantial six-shot lead. History suggests that no one has ever lost a lead larger than five shots in this prestigious event, spanning 125 editions. The sole major collapse of this scale was Greg Norman’s at the 1996 Masters.
Even with diminished winds, Shinnecock Hills remained a formidable challenge. Only two golfers finished under par during the third round. Emiliano Grillo accomplished this before the leaders teed off, facing 30-mph winds, while Scheffler scored a 69. Clark narrowly missed joining them, ending his round with a miss on a 5-foot par putt on the final hole, completing at 7-under 203, marking the lowest 54-hole score in the tournament’s history at Shinnecock Hills. He looks to add a second U.S. Open title alongside his 2023 victory at Los Angeles Country Club.
Clark faces competition from Scheffler, the current world No. 1, who hopes for a memorable final round. Scheffler aims for a career Grand Slam on a significant day — Father’s Day and his 30th birthday. He commented during an NBC interview, “There’s a lot of stuff going on. A special day. The tournament means a lot to me. Going to go out there and try to do my best and execute. I’ve been fighting like heck all week to stay in this tournament.” After falling behind by nine shots due to early bogeys, Scheffler played an impressive back nine, shooting 32 and starting a three-birdie streak by chipping in from 65 feet on the 14th. He expressed disappointment over missing a 4-foot birdie putt on the final hole, yet his performance moved him into the last group as Shinnecock Hills proved challenging for others.
Wyndham Clark’s past includes a locker-smashing incident, yet he leads yet another U.S. Open. Meanwhile, Sam Stevens closed the gap to two shots but recorded three consecutive bogeys at the start of the back nine and ended with six straight pars, leading to a 72. Tom Kim lost two shots at inopportune moments, also finishing with a 72. Sahith Theegala recorded one birdie, one bogey, and 16 pars for a round of 70. With only five players finishing under par at 1-under 209, the competition remains steep.