Wyndham Clark Holds On to Win U.S. Open

Wyndham Clark held on under immense pressure to win his second U.S. Open title in four years, fending off a late charge from Sam Burns at Shinnecock Hills. Clark carded a 1-over 73 in the final round, finishing one shot ahead of Burns to claim the championship.

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Six shots ahead at the start of the final round, Clark's final act was two putts from just outside 50 feet for par that gave him a 3-over 73 and a one-shot victory over Burns.

Clark, who also won the 2023 U.S. Open, achieved a rare wire-to-wire victory, a feat not seen in the tournament since Martin Kaymer in 2014. However, this win was far from comfortable. Clark began the final round with a six-shot lead, but his advantage dwindled rapidly, shrinking to a single shot after just five holes. The tension remained high throughout the remainder of his round.

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This sure didn't feel like that. His lead was down to a single shot after just five holes, and the stress followed him the rest of the way.

A pivotal moment came on the par-5 16th hole. After a difficult drive, Clark hit his approach to within 30 feet and sank the putt for birdie, extending his lead to two shots with two holes remaining. This clutch performance occurred amidst muted applause, as the gallery largely favored Scottie Scheffler, who was also in contention but never seriously threatened Clark's lead.

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The clincher for Clark was one of his worst drives of the day on the par-5 16th. He gouged that out and narrowly cleared a bunker. His 8-iron barely stayed on the back of the green. And he rolled in a 30-foot birdie putt that gave him a two-shot lead with two holes to play.

Clark's final round 73 was the highest closing score for a U.S. Open champion since Graeme McDowell's 74 in 2010. Despite the struggles, the 32-year-old American secured his second major championship. Burns, meanwhile, finished with a 67 but missed crucial birdie opportunities on the final two holes, including a three-putt bogey on the 15th, which proved costly in his bid for the title.

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It was a signature moment with muted applause. The gallery rooted against him all day, putting all their support behind Scottie Scheffler and his bid for the career Grand Slam.