Wyndham Clark Wins US Open, Earns First Major Title

Wyndham Clark Wins US Open – Wyndham Clark earned the first major title of his career by winning the 123rd edition of the US Open on Sunday. The Denver, Colorado native shot an even-par 70 in the fourth round to seal his maiden major crown with a 10-under 270 at the Los Angeles Country Club. It was Clark’s second title of the year as he followed up on his Wells Fargo Championship victory last month. The 29-year-old parbuster held off two of the world’s top golfers – Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler – to earn USD3.6 million.

The World No32 Clark overcame two late bogeys, closing with a pair of pars to shut the door on McIlroy, who was aiming to win his first major title in nine years. Clark’s victory was a surprise for online sports betting aficionados as the American came to the tournament with a best finish of joint 75th in six prior major starts.

Wyndham Clark Wins US Open: Good Start, Better Finish

Clark began the fourth round tied for first place with Rickie Fowler and led by three shots after sinking a birdie at the par-five 14th hole where he reached the green in two and two-putted for birdie from 20 feet. However, he dropped two shots following bogeys in the 15th and 16th holes. With McIlroy lurking, Clark breathed a sigh of relief as he buried an all-important par in the par-four 17th hole, despite missing the green. 

In the last hole, Clark’s approach from the 18th left him 60 feet from the whole. In his third shot, the American moved to within three feet from the pin and calmly putted his final shot that sealed his first-ever major title. Clark dedicated the victory to his late mother, who passed away in 2013 due to breast cancer.

Another Heartbreaker for McIlroy

Clark’s US Open win in Los Angeles shuts the door for four-time major winner McIlroy, who is seeking his first major crown in nine years. The Northern Irishman kept the pressure on Clark from the opening hole. He was able to turn a three-shot deficit to one thanks to the American’s back-to-back bogeys. He remained in contention in the 17th after settling for a par. 

McIlroy, who opened the fourth round with a birdie, closed with a 70. His 12 straight pars after the first hole kept him in the game but he missed those makeable putts at that stretch. This could have moved him atop the leaderboard which could have pressured Clark to make some putts to preserve his lead. The Northern Irishman came home with a USD2.160 million for his runner-up finish.

Scheffler Finishes 3rd, Smith Settles for 4th

World No1 Scheffler also carded an even-par 70 in the final round to finish third on 273. Reigning British Open champion Cameron Smith finished fourth at 6-under 274 after shooting a 67. Scheffler earned USD1.413 million while Smith took home USD990,867 for their finishes. Overnight leader Fowler had a nightmarish fourth round, shooting seven bogeys in a 5-over 75. He finished tied for fifth with Tommy Fleetwood and Min Woo Lee of Australia at 5-under 275.

The trio received USD738,934. Lee shot a 67 in the final round and Fleetwood carded a sizzling 7-under 63 in the last 18 holes. Fleetwood become the first golfer in US Open history to shoot two 63s in one tournament. Harris English (72) and Tom Kim (69) shared eighth place at 4-under 276. They earned USD562,808 for the feat. Austin Eckroat (65), Jon Rahm (65), Dustin Johnson (72) and Xander Schauffele (72) ended up joint 10th at 277 and took home USD435,018.

Unfancied Clark Pulls off King-Sized Upset

The latest edition of the US Open had a surprise finish with the unheralded Clark showing nerves of steel by sinking consecutive pars on the 17th and 18th holes. The American stunned the experts who focus more on the golf picks and parlays, as he made the most crucial shots of his life after seeing his three-shot advantage dwindled to one after shooting two straight bogeys in the 15th and 16th. What is more surprising is that the World No32 Clark withstood the last-ditch challenge from four-time major winner McIlroy.

His consistent showing from day one of the tournament is worth mentioning as those were enough to beat the best in the world, including World No1 Scheffler and second-ranked Rahm. Clark’s US Open triumph is the biggest win of his career and his second title this year after emerging victorious in the Wells Fargo Championship in May. The win is expected to help Clark rise in the world golf rankings and will now become one of the top parbusters to watch.