US Open 2026: Clark dominates at Shinnecock Hills as McIlroy and Scheffler stumble from windy rail

US Open, round two leaderboard

-7 W. Clarke (US); -3 M Fitzpatrick (Eng), T Kim (Cor), X Schauffele (US), S Stevens (US).

Chosen: 2 C. Morikawa (US); -1 J. Thomas (USA); Level A Fitzpatrick (ENG), R McIlroy (NI), S Scheffler (US); +1 A Rye (Eng), J Rose (Eng), L Aberg (Sweden), T Fleetwood (Eng); +2 T Hatton (Engineer); +4 R McIntyre (SCO)

Still, the weather took a heavy toll at Shinnecock Hills as Wyndham Clarke built a healthy four-shot halfway lead at the US Open.

Scotty Scheffler called the wind his “biggest challenge”, while Rory McIlroy said “the draw was very windy and the results showed it”.

Of course, one of the dangers of playing outdoor sports is spread over a day at the start. The score average changed from 73.87 Thursday morning to 71.97 early Friday.

Clarke, the 2023 champion, was one of those who took advantage of playing in excellent conditions late Thursday and early Friday and followed that up with a 64 to open with a 69.

England’s Matt Fitzpatrick, the 2022 US Open winner, was on his side of the draw and is among Clarke’s closest rivals after posting a 70.

But the wind was not solely to blame as McIlroy and Scheffler finished four back in the draw and joint second – South Korea’s Tom Kim and American Sam Stevens.

McIlroy reached three under after two birdies in the opening eight holes and looked to be eating away at Clark’s lead, weak shots and a strengthening wind on his second nine holes.

The gusty conditions weren’t as severe as Thursday, when 40 mph winds battered the Long Island course in New York state.

But it was enough punishment to trouble Scheffler, especially in the set pieces.

“With the amount of volume on the green, it’s extremely difficult to play in the wind, and when the wind is blowing that much, setting speed on the putts can be just as challenging,” he said.