SOUTHAMPTON, United States — Wyndham Clark captured his second US Open title after a back-nine battle on Sunday (Monday in Manila), holding off Sam Burns for a wire-to-wire triumph at blustery Shinnecock.
Clark, whose other major crown came at the 2023 US Open, fired a three-over par 73 to finish 72 holes on four-under 276 and defeat fellow American Burns by one stroke.
Clark began the day with a six-shot lead, saw it shrink to a single stroke as he struggled early, then grinded through the back nine.
He did not secure victory until a tap-in par at the last hole, celebrating on Father’s Day with a hug from his dad Randall, who flew in to surprise him after the win.
Clark captured the record top prize of $4.5 million from a $22.5 million purse, but the effort had greater meaning as well.
The 32-year-old American said it was a way to help him erase the bad feelings over smashing a locker at Oakmont after missing the cut in last year’s US Open.
Clark also became only the ninth wire-to-wire US Open winner and the first since Germany’s Martin Kaymer at Pinehurst in 2014.
Burns was second on 277 after a closing 67 with South Korean Tom Kim third on 279 after a 70.
Top-ranked Scottie Scheffler fired a 71 to share fourth on 280 with fellow Americans Keith Mitchell and JT Poston.
Scheffler, a four-time major winner, would have completed a career Grand Slam with a victory on his 30th birthday.
Greg Norman at the 1996 Masters was the only golfer to ever lose a major after leading by six or more through 54 holes, but Clark made things tense for a while.
Clark, who won his fourth PGA Tour title last month in Texas, made bogey at the par-three second hole while Burns birdied three of the first five holes.
His approach at one landed inches from the hole to set up a tap-in birdie. Burns added a birdie putt from just inside eight feet at the third and sank a 26-foot birdie putt at the fifth.
Clark sank a 15-foot putt to save par at the fourth, but Burns responded by sinking a birdie putt from just inside 50 feet at the eighth.
When Clark missed a 24-foot par putt at the par-five fifth, his bogey trimmed the lead to one shot.
Burns missed the green on his approach and made bogey at nine but Clark missed a four-foot par putt at the par-three seventh and the lead was again one.
A 78-foot chip to within inches of the hole saved par at nine to keep Clark ahead and he followed with a four-foot par putt at 10 to boost his lead.
Burns fell three adrift with a three-putt bogey at 15, but Clark missed an eight-foot par putt to bogey 13 and Burns sank a 17-foot birdie putt at the par-five 16th to pull within one again.
Tension built with the outcome on a knife’s edge as Burns barely missed a 16-foot birdie putt at 18, the result bringing him to his knees.
Clark found deep left rough off the 16th tee but blasted into the fairway and sank a dramatic 24-foot birdie putt for a two-stroke lead.
Clark, however, missed a six-foot par putt at the par-three 17th and his lead was again one.
At 18, Clark needed to two-putt from 52 feet for the victory. His first stopped inches from the hole and he tapped in for victory.
Burns, 29, failed to grab a first major title and first victory in more than three years.
The US Golf Association said several spectators were ejected from the course for what was called unacceptable conduct. AP
IT’S been talked about ever since Serena Williams announced nearly three weeks ago that she was returning to professional tennis after almost four years away from the sport.
Still, seeing the single-sentence announcement from The All England Club that the 23-time Grand Slam champion will play singles at Wimbledon was stunning nonetheless.
“Serena Williams (USA) receives the final ladies’ singles wild card,” read the key line in Sunday’s announcement, which was issued eight days before the grass-court Grand Slam begins.
At age 44, Williams will actually play both singles and doubles at Wimbledon after already accepting a wild card for the doubles competition with older sister Venus.
“This is not a drill,” Wimbledon said on its social media accounts Sunday.
Commented the WTA Tour, “Name a more iconic return...we’ll wait.”
Wimbledon held open the eighth and final women’s singles wild card spot until Williams made up her mind. As recently as earlier this week after losing a doubles match in Berlin, she appeared to be waffling over the decision.
“Oh my gosh, there are some left?” she replied when she was told there was still a wild card spot open. Wild cards are special invitations handed out by tournament organizers, which allow former champions and others access to the main draw without the necessary entry qualifications. But then she mused about her readiness for it. AP
