The leader heading into the final round of the US Open at Shinnecock Hills on Long Island has bemoaned what he believes has been a lackluster crowd.
‘It was kind of unfortunate that we’re finishing in the dark and people weren’t really out there because there were some obviously key, big moments,’ Wyndham Clark said following his third round, where he shot an even 70. ‘And it did kind of get a little flat, so yeah, unfortunately.’
Many home viewers have noticed smaller crowds at this year’s tournament, particularly in the grandstands, which had rows of empty seats as Clark, Matt Fitzpatrick, Xander Schauffele and Collin Morikawa finished play on Saturday.
Clark remained optimistic that the Long Island crowds – long famed for their interactions with players – will become more noticeable on the final day of the tournament.
‘Hopefully tomorrow there’s a bunch of fans and stuff, but for me, it’s still really important, and I still felt the moment,’ he said. ‘It’s just maybe unfortunate that there weren’t all the people there.’
Asked if he’s ever seen such small crowds at a major, Clark admitted he has.
Wyndham Clark waits to putt for eagle on the par 5, 16th hole as his playing partner Matt Fitzpatrick of England looks on during the third round of the 126th US Open
Clark and girlfriend Emily Tanner walk off the 18th green as the sun sets in Southampton
‘Yeah, actually I can when I was in, like, 50th place or something,’ he said. ‘It’s a little unfortunate. I don’t know if it’s because we finished so late or what, but it’s OK. I am still excited to be where I’m at, and I’m not really focusing on that part.’
Clark’s group did not tee off on Saturday until 3:45pm, which created some beautiful sunset photos on the back nine, but also created an obstacle for many fans traveling from the city.
As a result, many reportedly left early to catch their trains on the Long Island Rail Road, according to Golf Digest.
Two winners could emerge at the US Open barring any Sunday surprises at Shinnecock Hills.
That starts with Clark, who went into the final round with a six-shot lead. No one has ever lost a 54-hole lead that large in US Open history, and the last time anyone failed to win this major with a five-shot lead happened 107 years ago.
The other winner might be the USGA.
The toughest test in golf became too tough the last two US Opens at Shinnecock Hills, the Long Island course where the turf can go from soft to dry in a New York minute because of wind and sun and the sandy soil on which it was built.
There were empty seats visible on Saturday, particularly as play drifted into the evening
It was so out of control in 2004 that no one broke par on the final day. The next time in 2018, some of the greens became borderline unplayable late in the afternoon and caused more chaos. That remains the last US Open with a winning score over par.
This week has gone according to plan. John Bodenhamer, the chief competitions officer for the USGA, had wanted to go easy at the start and allow a natural progression of being tougher.
Clark, who won the US Open at Los Angeles Country Club in 2023, didn’t make it look that way. He has set a Shinnecock scoring record after each round with extraordinary golf, from making long putts to a sublime short game and one majestic 3-wood to make the only eagle all week at the par-5 16th.
He was at 7-under 203.
Throw out that performance, and only four other players were at 1-under par, with four others behind them at even par.
All that was left was 18 holes to determine if Clark could hold on to become the first wire-to-wire US Open champion since Martin Kaymer at Pinehurst No. 2 in 2014, or if Scottie Scheffler could stage a rally on his 30th birthday to win the career Grand Slam.
