MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIP

US Open

Wyndham Clark Wins First Major At The US Open

Wyndham Clark is a major champion! The 29-year-old American outlasted some of golf’s biggest names to claim the 123rd US Open at Los Angeles Country Club. Clark finished one-shot clear of four-time major winner Rory McIlroy with world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler in third place and the reigning Open champion Cameron Smith in fourth place.

Clark started the final round holding the joint 54-hole lead at 10-under with compatriot Rickie Fowler. This was unfamiliar territory for Clark who previously only made the cut at a major championship two times from six starts with a best performance T75 at the 2021 PGA Championship. It was his first made cut at the US Open from three starts. Clark began Sunday in a positive note making a birdie at the opening par 5 hole. He made the turn in 1-under 34 before producing four consecutive pars on the back nine from the 10th to 13th holes. Clark moved to a three-shot lead with a birdie at the par 5, 14th hole. With the coveted US Open title within his grasp, Clark’s lead narrowed to just one shot after he made back-to-back bogeys at the 15th and 16th holes. He then finished the tournament with clutch pars at the difficult closing 17th and 18th holes for his second victory this PGA Tour season. Clark broke through for his maiden PGA Tour title at the Wells Fargo Championship last month. Clark produced rounds of 64, 67, 69 and 70 to reach 10-under and bank the winner’s cheque of US$3.6 million.

McIlroy, aged 34, was chasing his fifth major title and first major championship since winning the 2014 PGA Championship. The 2011 US Open champion closed with an even par round 70 carding 16 pars, one birdie and one bogey to finish one shot behind Clark at 9-under. It was his fifth consecutive top 10 result at the US Open.

Scheffler was looking for his seventh PGA Tour title and second major victory after donning the Green Jacket at the 2022 Masters. The 26-year-old American, who finished T2 at last year’s US Open signed for an even par final round to remain at 7-under for solo third place. Scheffler moved into final round contention late on Saturday after closing out the third round with an incredible eagle, birdie finish. Scheffler holed out for a two from 196 yards on the par 4, 17th hole. It was the second-longest hole-out of his PGA Tour career. The Texan owns top 10 results at all three majors this season after finishing T2 at the PGA Championship and T10 at The Masters.

Smith signed for a final round 3-under 67 to claim outright fourth pace at 6-under. The 29-year-old Australian came home strong with three unanswered birdies on the back nine for his second top 5 finish at the US Open. He was T4 in 2015.  

Fowler, England‚Äôs Tommy Fleetwood and Aussie Min Woo Lee took a share of fifth place at 5-under. Fowler slumped to a disappointing 5-over 75. The 34-year-old American was hoping to return to the winner‚Äôs circle for the first time since claiming the 2019 WM Phoenix Open. The Californian fired the lowest round in US Open history on Thursday with a thrilling 8-under 62 that included 10 birdies. Xander Schauffele matched that feat minutes later. Fowler has produced 13 top 10s in majors since 2014‚Äîthe most of any golfer that has not won a major championship. Fleetwood carded a stunning 7-under 63 final round to bolt up the leaderboard. The 32-year-old was on scoring record pace at a major getting to 8-under for the day after 14 holes. The electrifying run included two eagles and four birdies. Fleetwood dropped a shot at the 16th hole. Lee carded a bogey-free 3-under 67 on Sunday for his first top 5 finish at a major. The 27-year-old from Perth enjoyed a solid round of golf that included making birdies at the 3rd, 6th and 15th holes. Lee, who boasts two wins on the European Tour, is making strong headway on the PGA Tour this season. The talented Aussie finished T6 at THE PLAYERS Championship in March. Lee earned Special Temporary Membership on the PGA Tour following his T18 finish at the PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club in May.   

The PGA Tour moves to Connecticut for next week’s Travelers Championship to be staged at TPC River Highlands. America’s Xander Schauffele is the defending champion.

Final Scores
US Open

1. Wyndham Clark -10
2. Rory McElroy -9 
3. Scottie Scheffler -7
4. Cameron Smith -6
T5. Min Woo Lee -5
T5. Tommy Fleetwood -5
T5. Rickie Fowler -5
T8. Tom Kim -4
T8. Harris English -4

Other Australians
MC. Lucas Herbert
MC. Adam Scott
MC. Karl Vilips
MC. Jason Day
MC. Cam Davis

 

Photo credit: David Cannon /Getty Images