Wyndham Clark’s resurgent 2026 looks set to reach new heights this weekend, with the American golfer heading into the final round of the US Open with a handsome six-shot lead.
The tournament appears to be his to lose, although the Shinnecock Hills course has been causing carnage for plenty of his rivals throughout the week. With Scottie Scheffler tied for second, albeit by some distance, Clark has not quite wrapped up his second major win just yet.
Off the course, however, it appears that a newfound happiness is behind the 32-year-old’s impressive form this year.
He went public at The Masters with new girlfriend, influencer Emily Tanner, at the iconic par-3 contest before recording a career-best finish of 21st at Augusta.
Last month, he won The CJ Cup Byron Nelson with a scintillating final round of 60 and now he stands on the brink of a stunning victory at the course held this year a short distance outside of New York.
Tanner was waiting for Clark on the edge of the 18th green on Saturday night as he left the course with a commanding lead. She shared a picture of Clark’s score on her Instagram story, captioning the image: ‘Proud x100000’.
US Open leader Wyndham Clark pictured with girlfriend Emily Tanner at the end of round three
Clark, 32, has enjoyed a resurgent 2026 season amid going public with girlfriend Tanner
Tanner said she was ‘Proud x1000000’ of Clark, who Saturday held a six-shot US Open lead
Clark, meanwhile, described Tanner as ‘my good luck charm’ when he posted pictures of them at Augusta in April. So far, she seems to be just that.
Before going public with Tanner, Clark endured a difficult 2025. Last year, at the tournament he is now on the brink of winning, his temper got the best of him and he smashed his locker up at the Oakmont course after failing to make the cut.
Weeks earlier, he dangerously threw his driver away at the US PGA Championship, snapping it and damaging the signage behind him.
He hasn’t shied away this year from accepting that his conduct often fell below the required standard.
Now, with a new source of support in his corner, he has a huge opportunity to show how things have changed.
‘I feel good. I have got more and more comfortable every time I have got in these positions,’ Clark said Saturday about his chances of winning.
There were some moments of scrutiny during his third round, though, amid the brilliance.
Clark made crucial par saves from five feet (three times), six feet, seven feet and 14ft but also produced some stunning shots, the best a 275-yard approach to inside five feet for the week’s first eagle at the par-five 16th.
Clark and Tanner hard-launched their relationship at The Masters back in April
That gave him an advantage of seven over the chasing pack and Clark’s lucky breaks continued at the next where he found the heavy rough but claimed a free drop from a television tower and was then allowed to place his ball after it twice rolled away.
There were also eyebrows raised about the amount of ‘gardening’ he was doing on the line of his putts over the closing holes on the Poa annua grass greens which have a reputation for becoming increasingly difficult as the day wears on.
The rules allow players to tap down spike marks but Clark spent an inordinate amount of time working on his lines.
