Wyndham Clark Avoids Record Meltdown To Win His Second U.s. Open Title In Four Years

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — On nan separator of nan top illness successful U.S. Open history, Wyndham Clark held his nervus against a complaint by Sam Burns and a Shinnecock Hills assemblage that ne'er gave him overmuch emotion Sunday until he captured his 2nd Open title successful 4 years.

Six shots up astatine nan commencement of nan last round, Clark’s last enactment was 2 putts from conscionable extracurricular 50 feet for par that gave him a 3-over 73 and a one-shot triumph complete Burns.

Clark, who won nan 2023 U.S. Open astatine Los Angeles Country Club, became nan first wire-to-wire victor of nan U.S. Open since Martin Kaymer astatine Pinehurst No. 2 successful 2014.

This judge didn’t consciousness for illustration that. His lead was down to a azygous changeable aft conscionable 5 holes, and nan accent followed him nan remainder of nan way.

The clincher for Clark was 1 of his worst drives of nan time connected nan par-5 16th. He gouged that retired and narrowly cleared a bunker. His 8-iron hardly stayed connected nan backmost of nan green. And he rolled successful a 30-foot birdie putt that gave him a two-shot lead pinch 2 holes to play.

It was a signature infinitesimal pinch muted applause. The assemblage rooted against him each day, putting each their support down Scottie Scheffler and his bid for nan profession Grand Slam. Scheffler had his ain stock of mistakes and ne'er sewage person than 3 shots each day.

Clark had nan highest last information of a U.S. Open champion since Graeme McDowell closed pinch a 74 to triumph astatine Pebble Beach. No matter. The 32-year-old American has 2 U.S. Open titles, and 2 wins successful nan past month.

Burns closed pinch a 67, his 2nd chance successful arsenic galore years to triumph nan U.S. Open. He missed 2 birdie chances connected nan last 2 holes, but what wounded conscionable arsenic overmuch was a three-putt bogey connected nan 15th erstwhile he was trying to drawback Clark.

Ferguson writes for nan Associated Press.