Clark avoids mammoth collapse to win US Open
Wyndham Clark claims US Open for second time with one-stroke victory ahead of Sam Burns
Wyndham Clark (right) celebrates with caddie David Pelekoudas after winning the US Open. (Getty Images: Andrew Redington)
In short:
Wyndham Clark held on to record a one-stroke victory at the US Open.
Clark began the final round with a six-shot lead before claiming his second US Open win.
Sam Burns was second on the leaderboard after a spirited challenge in the final round.
Wyndham Clark was on the edge of the greatest collapse in US Open history, but held his nerve to claim a one-stroke victory ahead of fellow American Sam Burns.
It is Clark's second US Open triumph, and he became the first wire-to-wire winner of the tournament since Martin Kaymer in 2014.
The 2023 champion seemed untouchable as he started the day at 7-under-par and six shots clear of the field.
But he struggled to find the fairway on the front nine on the challenging Shinnecock Hills Golf Club course in Southampton, New York.
Wyndham Clark reunites with the trophy he first won in 2023. (Getty Images: Kate McShane)
Clark cleaned up early mistakes to card a 3-over 73 and finish at 4-under for the tournament, capping off quite a turnaround from a year ago.
He threw a driver at the PGA Championship that made a tournament official flinch and then bashed in his locker at the storied Oakmont Country Club after missing the cut in the US Open last year.
"New York didn't really like me — I love you guys," Clark said at the trophy presentation.
"But I get it. Some of it is self-deserved. I did some unfortunate things last year that I really regret, and I've been sorry multiple times and I'm still sorry, so hopefully I can win you guys over eventually."
Burns, who started the day seven shots back, thrilled the gallery as he mounted an audacious comeback campaign.
Wyndham Clark held a six-stroke lead at the beginning of the final round. (Getty Images: David Cannon)
He missed a birdie putt on the final hole with a chance to tie, before eventually carding a 3-under 67.
"I really thought I made that putt," Burns said.
"It just didn't go in."
South Korea's Tom Kim (70) was third at 1-under.
JT Poston (67), Keith Mitchell (70) and world number one Scottie Scheffler (71) shared fourth place at even-par.
Scheffler, who was trying to complete the career Grand Slam, never made an impression in the final round.
The best rounds of the day were 66s turned in by Sweden's Ludvig Åberg and Chile's Joaquín Niemann.
Niemann tied for seventh at 1-over, while Åberg was at 3-over and shared 17th place.
Reuters/AP
