U.S. Open will be Wyndham Clark's coronation, or a comeback for the ages
· Yahoo Sports
SOUTHAMPTON, New York — Wyndham Clark's most formidable foe in the final round of the U.S. Open might not be the demanding Shinnecock course or even his playing partner (world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler), but rather himself.
That's the case when you build a six-shot lead going into Sunday (9 a.m.-12 p.m. ET on USA Network and 12-7 on NBC and Peacock).
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Clark is riding a hot streak over the last month — a win (with a final round 60), a solo third and a tie for 11th in his last three tournaments.
He scrambled his way Saturday to an even 70, one of the best rounds as only two men broke par. If you only listened to Clark, you would have thought otherwise.
“That was the worst shot of my life,” Clark said after hitting his approach to the eighth hole into a bunker.
"Wow, we're just making mistake after mistake," he said after his approach to the 10th went past the green.
And on 18, as Clark held a seven-shot lead before a closing bogey in the gloaming, he said, "Gosh, I’ve hit some terrible shots today. This is just ridiculous."
Wyndham vs. Scottie: Sunday at Shinnecock set for popcorn-worthy showdownSunday at Shinnecock is set for a firework finish as Wyndham Clark and Scottie Scheffler take the 126th U.S. Open home.All that from a man who holds the third-largest 54-hole lead in modern U.S. Open history. Only Tiger Woods in 2000 (10 shots at Pebble Beach) and Rory McIlroy in 2011 (eight shots at Congressional) have him beat there.
Every man who led a U.S. Open by more than five shots after 54 holes went on to win. Only once did a man with a lead of six or more squander any major in the final round: Greg Norman at the 1996 Masters.
Clark is the fifth man since 2000 to lead the U.S. Open outright after each of the first three rounds. The previous four all won: Woods in 2000 and 2002, McIlroy in 2011 and Martin Kaymer in 2014.
So Clark's play is on his side. The statistics are on his side. So is experience.
In 2023, Clark was tied for the U.S. Open lead going into the final round at Los Angeles Country Club. He was up by three with four holes to play, bogeyed Nos. 15 and 16, but held on to win by one over McIlroy.
Clark was ranked 32nd in the world at that time. He's 34th now, having slumped from No. 3 in April 2024 to No. 75 in mid-May.
"I'm definitely a lot more confident (now) and believe I can do it," Clark said Saturday night. "I'd say in '23 there was still doubts. Not necessarily doubts, but I hadn't done it, so there was a lot of unknown. Now that I have done it, I know I can do it, and I can do it again."
This past week on Long Island has been defined by the wind almost as much as by Wyndham. On Sunday, Mother Nature is expected to be its tamest all tournament. On the other hand, the course could be set up at its most difficult, offsetting the gentler breezes.
"It’s a little bit out of the chasing pack’s hands," said Sahith Theegala, who is tied for second with Scheffler, Tom Kim and Sam Stevens. "The hope is to give him a little bit of pressure. This golf course is so difficult that one or two holes could be the difference. There’s a disaster waiting to happen on every hole."
U.S. Open final round tee times: Full Sunday pairings, featured groups and how to watchAll Round 4 tee times for the 2026 U.S. Open, including Sunday pairings, featured groups, start times and TV streaming information from Shinnecock Hills.Added Keith Mitchell, who is seven shots back, "The only way that that you catch somebody like Wyndham is the golf course start to win against him."
Mighty Shinnecock has yet to do that. Clark has been in control ever since an hour in the Thursday sunset when he strung together two birdies and an eagle, taking advantage of calm conditions and soft greens.
"It's all in Wyndham's hands, really," said Xander Schauffele, also seven behind. "If he plays a really solid round of golf tomorrow, if he shoots even par or 1 over or 2 over, he's going to win the golf tournament. That's how I think it's going to pan out."
Then there's Scheffler, who climbed into Sunday's final pairing. Even with a back nine 32, and the second-best round of the day, he only gained one shot on Clark on Saturday.
"I did a good job of keeping myself in the tournament," Scheffler said while not knowing his deficit as Clark was still on course. "I'll need a really nice round tomorrow if I'm going to try and catch Wyndham."
Scheffler's largest final round comeback to win any PGA Tour event was five shots.
To complete the career Grand Slam on his 30th birthday, Scheffler must recreate Johnny Miller's magical six-shot comeback from 1963.
"Scottie is the best player in the world, and he's going to play probably really good," Clark said. "He always does, but it's nice to have a six-shot lead on him."
Scottie Scheffler roars, moves up at U.S. Open, seeking career Grand SlamScottie Scheffler moved into the top five at the U.S. Open at Shinnecock.