Wyndham Clark avoids collapse to win U.S. Open
Wyndham Clark survived a tense Sunday at Shinnecock Hills to capture his second U.S. Open title in four years. The 32-year-old closed with a 3-over 73 to finish at 4 under par and edge Sam Burns by a single shot.
The American began the day with a commanding six-shot lead, but the margin quickly dwindled. He made three bogeys on the front nine while Burns climbed the leaderboard with four birdies over his first eight holes, turning what appeared to be a runaway into a back-nine battle.
Clark started better on the back side, making a birdie on the 10th hole to restore a two-shot cushion before giving a shot back at the 13th. Burns got to within one shot after a birdie on the par-5 16th but left birdie putts short on 17 and 18. He finished at 3 under to assume the clubhouse lead.
With Burns done, Clark produced the shot of the championship on the par-5 16th. After a poor drive left him scrambling, he blasted out from a gnarly like and then rolled in a lengthy birdie putt to move two clear with two holes to play. The birdie proved crucial as Clark bogeyed the 17th before safely navigating the 18th to secure the title. Clark became the first wire-to-wire U.S. Open champion since Martin Kaymer in 2014.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, attempting to complete the career Grand Slam, spent much of the day within striking distance but never seriously threatened Clark. He carded a 1-over 71 and finished tied for fourth.
Corey Conners was the lone Canadian to make the cut. The Listowel, Ont., native finished T23 at 5 over par.
Shot of the Day
Rory McIlroy never seriously threatened the lead on Sunday. But he did give fans something to talk about right from the opening tee.
Video of the Day
Miles Russell’s U.S. Open debut ended with a Father’s Day surprise. The 17-year-old amateur had a plan in place before he reached the 18th hole at Shinnecock Hills and his father had no idea it was coming.
Another Video of the Day
Sahith Theegala’s U.S. Open hopes “slipped” away in more ways than one Sunday at Shinnecock.
Soundbite of the Day
“I’m just a big guy with big ole round shoulders obviously. If I button any more buttons, it makes me feel claustrophobic.”
Harry Higgs. Fashionista. pic.twitter.com/Yx3hwYdqYx
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 21, 2026
If you enjoyed Harry Higgs’ press conference earlier this week, you’re probably going to love this too.
Photo of the Day
With the U.S. Open trophy in hand and the sun setting over Shinnecock Hills, Wyndham Clark soaked in the moment.
Monday Musings
– Wyndham Clark is not really my cup of tea (and juding by the boos at Shinnecock, he’s not many’s favourite). After he won the U.S. Open at LACC in 2023, I viewed him as a somewhat fluky major champion who happened to catch lightning in a bottle for one week. Three years later, that opinion no longer holds up. Two U.S. Open titles, a Players Championship and a consistent presence near the top of leaderboards have proven he belongs among the game’s elite. He’s earned my respect.
– The New York fans were giving it to Wyndham Clark. Cheering his bad shots, yelling for his ball to find the bunker. I’ve never heard American fans root against a fellow countryman that passionately. I will give Clark credit, though. He handled it well on the course and gave a great answer in his post-round interview.
– There was a lot of talk on the broadcast about Clark trying to “rewrite” his image after he bashed in a locker at Oakmont a year ago. It felt like they were trying to convince viewers to root for him. I see it a different way: whether it’s his on-course behaviour or off-course behaviour, Clark has become one of the most polarizing figures in professional golf. To borrow a term from pro wrestling, he is a heel. And a good one at that. When the first wave of players left the PGA Tour for LIV, the one sentiment was that they took “all the villains.” Well, Wyndham Clark can fill that void. Does being a “villain” mean he’s a bad guy? No. It just means he elicits a reaction and people care when he’s in the mix. Pro sports is an entertainment product and you need a mix of heroes and heels.
– Scottie Scheffler’s first attempt at completing the career grand slam will be remembered for many missed opportunities. He failed to convert a lot of birdie putts on the weekend that could’ve swung the momentum in his favour. One that comes to mind immediately was on the 18th hole on Saturday. I feel like if that goes in, he has some great vibes going into Sunday.
– Corey Conners picked up his second career top 20 at the U.S. Open. A nice result for the 34-year-old who has not been at his best this year. I am not sure if this will spark a second-half run, but it’s a sign he’s trending in the right direction.