Wyndham Clark Dominates U.S. Open, Sets New Shinnecock Record!
Wyndham Clark Dominates U.S. Open, Sets New Shinnecock Record!
Wyndham Clark takes a commanding four-stroke lead at the U.S. Open, setting a new 36-hole scoring record at Shinnecock. Major champions are hot on his heels! Don't miss this thrilling golf action.
Wyndham Clark has taken a commanding four-stroke lead at the U.S. Open, battling blustery conditions at Shinnecock to finish Friday's second round at seven-under 133. The defending U.S. Open champion, Clark, carded a one-under par 69, cementing his position at the top of the leaderboard and setting a new 36-hole scoring record for Shinnecock. His 133 total beats the previous mark set by Phil Mickelson and Shigeki Maruyama in 2004.
Clark's round was capped by an impressive 33-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole, a fitting end to a day where he fended off strong challenges from fellow major winners such as Xander Schauffele, Matt Fitzpatrick, and Collin Morikawa. "I had it on a good line and I almost really called it," Clark remarked about his clutch putt. "I'm glad it went in. It was a great way to finish the round."
The 32-year-old American had a busy 20-hole day, starting with two holes to complete his fog-delayed opening round, where he shot a stellar six-under 64. He began his second round with eight consecutive pars before a minor hiccup at the ninth, where a 43-foot birdie putt lipped out, followed by a missed three-foot comeback effort. Despite this, Clark rallied with birdies at the 12th and 13th, showing resilience that will be crucial for the weekend. "Had an awesome day yesterday and then came out today, wasn't as good, but I really fought and hopefully this is the toughest day for me," Clark stated, acknowledging the challenging conditions.
In pursuit of Clark, a strong contingent of major champions and rising stars are tied for second place at 137. This group includes England's Matt Fitzpatrick, the 2022 U.S. Open winner, South Korean Tom Kim, and Americans Xander Schauffele and Sam Stevens. Collin Morikawa is close behind at 138. Fitzpatrick, despite struggling off the tee on the back nine, scrambled incredibly well, finishing his round with two birdies in the last three holes, including a 13-foot putt on the 18th, to post a 70. Schauffele also showed his class, birdieing three of his last four holes to stay within striking distance. The stage is now set for an exhilarating weekend as these golf titans vie for one of golf's most coveted titles.
