US Open 2026: Wyndham Clark wins second title at Shinnecock Hills

At times Sunday at Shinnecock Hills, Wyndham Clark felt like a second U.S. Open title and not the time he missed after breaking through the locks at Oakmont a year ago, and not the when.

The American, who has built a six-shot lead after leading at the end of each of the past three days, starts the fourth round as the overwhelming favourite.

However, by the time he reached the end of the seventh hole, the 2023 champion was reeling. His big advantage evaporated to one shot in a hot pursuit with Sam Burns.

Crucially, however, no one could draw equal to Clark. And although there are many more plots, He felt like he was crossing the finish line as the tournament’s first wire-to-wire winner since Martin Keimer in 2014 when he made a stunning 25-foot birdie putt on the 16th.

Even then it was drama. Needing a bogey on the 17th for the final par, he made a superb 53-foot birdie putt that ended up inches from the hole.

The win doesn’t fully make up for his shocking fall at last year’s championship, which saw him banned from the Pennsylvania club until anger management gets medical treatment and pays to repair the ancient lockers he damaged.

And there were occasions when the spirited steps that followed on Sunday didn’t seem to go into the galleries in response to him.

World number one Scottie Scheffler was forced by his teammates to complete his Grand Slam career as scores of fans celebrated Clarke’s bogey on the seventh day, while others were reportedly kicked out of the course due to hate.

It was a far cry from the scenes European players faced at Bethpage Black in September but Clarke held off the ruckus to complete victory.