Ridiculous shot puts villain in box seat for US Open redemption
Wyndham Clark is in the box seat to win a second US Open title, holding a six-shot lead into the final round.
As Shinnecock Hills started to show its teeth, Clark was steady. He opened with a bogey, but got it back with a birdie at the fifth. He made another bogey on the eighth and made the turn 1-over for the day and 6-under for the tournament.
Wyndham Clark has a six-shot lead in the US Open. Getty Images
He went birdie-bogey on 14 and 15, but then made a ridiculous eagle on the par-5 16th – the first player to make an eagle there all week – when he hit his second shot to barely a metre.
Making the shot even more remarkable was the pin location, tucked on the edge of the green, guarded by a deep bunker.
He calmly made the putt and stretched his lead briefly to seven shots, before a bogey on 18. He signed for an even-par 70 and is 7-under for the tournament.
Clark will play his final round with world No.1 Scottie Scheffler, who shot a blistering 3-under back nine to fire himself into contention. He signed for a 1-under 69 to be 1-under for the tournament.
Victory for Clark would be a story of redemption. After missing the cut at Oakmont 12 months ago, Clark went on a rampage and damaged a century-old locker in the dressing room. He has since fully paid for the damages, made a sizable donation to charity, and undergone anger management sessions.
Scheffler was one of only two players to shoot sub-par rounds. Argentine Emiliano Grillo made four birdies on the bounce between sixth and ninth holes, and another on the 16th, but made bogeys on 10 and 17. He signed for a 3-under 67.
Rory McIlroy was also on a charge. He made three birdies and two bogeys on the front nine, but made five bogeys on the back nine to all but end his run.
No one has ever lost more than a five-shot lead in 125 previous editions of the US Open. Greg Norman’s infamous meltdown at the 1996 Masters is the only time a player has lost a six-shot lead in any major.
But as Clark was finishing his round, many fans had already started leaving the venue.
Speaking to media after his round, Clark was critical of the decision to schedule the leaders tee off at 3.45pm local. It was well after 8pm local when they finished their round.
The final pairing will hit off at 2.30pm local time in the final round.
“It was kind of unfortunate that we’re finishing in the dark and people weren’t really out there,” Clark said.
“Because there were some obviously key, big moments, and it did kind of get a little flat.
The final pairing finished their rounds after 8pm local time, and many fans had left the venue. AP Photo/George Walker IV
“I’m still excited to be where I’m at.”
For the first time since the 2021 PGA Championship, there are no Australians playing the weekend at a major. Adam Scott, Min Woo Lee, Cameron Smith and Lucas Herbert all missed the cut.
Jason Day withdrew midway through the first round with a back injury.