Wyndham Clark survived a final-round scare to win his second US Open title in four years with a one-shot wire-to-wire victory at Shinnecock Hills.
The 2023 champion successfully avoided conceding the biggest 54-hole lead in the event’s history after starting the day with a six-stroke advantage.
After dominating over three days the 32-year-old’s aura quickly disappeared but, while he may not have been the most popular winner, having to endure catcalls from the gallery, his play over the week deserved it.
American Ryder Cup team-mate Sam Burns ran him close, getting within a shot after a round of 67, but when his birdie putt at the last grazed the hole, it left his rival needing to par his way home for victory.
Holing an unlikely 24-foot birdie putt from off the back of the 16th green should have given him a comfortable cushion, but he three-putted the next to drop back to four under.
Television cameras immediately cut to Burns in the players’ clubhouse, furiously typing on his phone and seemingly not paying attention to the unfolding drama.
He was right to not concern himself as Clark parred the last to be surprised by his dad Randall, who had flown in overnight to be with his son on Father’s Day, at the back of the green.
Scottie Scheffler’s bid for a career grand slam never got going as he started the day one under in the final group alongside Clark but was unable to generate any momentum on his way to a one-over 71 to tie for fourth.
Rory McIlroy accepted he had a “tiny” chance of producing something remarkable from 10 shots back, but it never materialised as he finished six over after a second successive 73.
The top European was Tyrrell Hatton, who secured back-to-back top-10s at the US Open with a 67 to get to one over, which was good enough for joint seventh and to secure his return next year.
Whether it was the apparent lack of jeopardy created by Clark’s dominance over three days or the fact he had blotted his copybook last year at Oakmont where he damaged a locker in the historic clubhouse and was subsequently banned after missing the cut, but the American’s every error was greeted with a growing sense of glee from large sections of the gallery.
While it was not on the level of the scenes which occurred at nearby Bethpage for September’s Ryder Cup, there was enough of an adverse reaction for local police to intervene and eject a couple of individuals.
But he overcame the opposition to leave Mike Brady still holding the record for the largest third-round US Open lead squandered – five shots in 1919.
Hatton, who plays for LIV Golf which limits his opportunities to qualify for majors, was happy to secure a return.
“I was happy to go out and play a pretty decent round of golf. Obviously the last hole (bogey) stings a bit now,” he said.
Masters champion McIlroy was left to rue “the wheels coming off” twice on the back nine this week.
“Looking back in the entire week I rue the back nine yesterday. I was two under par for the tournament after nine and then the wheels came off,” said the Northern Irishman, who shot 38 and 40 on the back nine on Friday and Saturday.
“I played a really bad back nine and I shot myself out of the tournament then. Friday too, I was three over for the back nine. I’ll rue both of those nines Friday and Saturday.”
