SOUTHAMPTON, NY. Sunday at a US Open. There’s nothing more stressful than being at or near the top of such a leaderboard and realizing what a final 18-hole round can mean.
Wyndham Clark has a six-shot lead over four golfers and one of them is named Scottie Scheffler — the world number one player. The two will be paired in the final twosome and the stakes for each are clear.
Clark has played superbly through 54 holes. Should he capture his second US Open title — the first happened in 2023 at Los Angeles CC — he will join an exclusive grouping of just eight golfers who went wire-to-wire by holding the sole outright lead without ever sharing the top spot after each round.
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The exclusive list of players achieving an outright wire-to-wire victory in the US Open:
• 1914: Walter Hagen
• 1921: Jim Barnes
• 1953: Ben Hogan
• 1970: Tony Jacklin
• 2000: Tiger Woods
• 2002: Tiger Woods
• 2011: Rory McIlroy
• 2014: Martin Kaymer
Tiger Woods remains the only golfer in the history of the tournament to achieve the milestone more than once.
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Clark successfully navigated himself around the demanding Shinnecock Hills layout Saturday with an uncanny ability to make key shots at specific moments. Case in point after a sloppy bogey at the par-4 15th, Clark showed no hesitancy in rebounding with a glorious fairway metal second shot to four-feet for eagle at the par-5 16th.
How good was the shot? It is, thus far, the only eagle made at the hole in the championship.
On the flip side – Scheffler showed resolve in resurrecting his position. His opening play during Saturday’s round was tentative and caused two quick bogies at the 1st and 2nd holes. Scheffler plodded along with pars for the remaining seven holes on the outward nine and it seemed his goal in snaring a US Open title — on his 30th birthday no less — and with that joining the career Grand Slam club — would need to wait till Pebble Beach in 2027.
But then a light switch went on. Scheffler played a gutsy approach to the devilish 10th and made birdie. He would follow that with three consecutive birdies starting at the 14th when chipping into the hole from behind the green.
Coming from behind is not unknown territory to Scheffler. At the Paris Summer Olympics in 2024 Scheffler trailed Jon Rahm by four shots before closing with a brilliant final round 62 and taking home the gold medal. At this year’s Masters — Scheffler trailed Rory McIlroy by 12 shots after 36 holes and then proceeded to play the final 36 holes with 65-68 scores and came up just one shot short.
Historic comebacks have happened at past US Opens. The most notable came in 1960 when Arnold Palmer trailed by seven shots. He forever etched his name in golf lore with a superlative 65 highlighted by driving green at the par-4 1st hole at Cherry Hills and claiming his lone win in the event.
13 years later Johnny Miller overcame a six-shot final round deficit with a then record score of 63 in winning the championship at Oakmont.
Scheffler’s main advantage — unlike Palmer or Miller — is that he will be paired with Clark. One can remember a famous similar six-shot deficit when Greg Norman led the 1996 Masters and was paired with rival Nick Faldo. The Englishman scored a 67 to the Australian’s 78 and won by five. However, that is the only time in major championship play that such a large lead has been squandered.
Historically, the Clark advantage after 54 holes has only been exceeded three times. Tiger Woods led by 10 shots at Pebble Beach in 2000, while Rory McIlroy was eight shots clear at Congressional in 2011. The only other instances came in 1921, when Jim Barnes led by seven shots.
The key for both men will be how fast or slow a start each demonstrates on the outward nine at Shinnecock Hills.
The best scores for this week’s championship have been limited. Clark scored 64 in the opening round and Collin Morikawa and Joaquín Niemann had 65s in round two. For Scheffler and any other player trailing the key will be if any significant miscues come from Clark.
Doubt can be disabling in any major championship and unless Clark shows some vulnerability, he will be difficult to catch.
The final round of any major championship can produce a wide range of emotions as the day progresses. Clark is well aware the championship is not over and he is keenly aware of the talent Scheffler has demonstrated throughout his career.
Clark’s resolve was evident during Saturday 3rd round play. Time after time he was tested and he showed the wherewithal not to allow the moment to overwhelm him.
Can he do so now on Sunday?
That question will be answered later today.
Related: Enough is enough — move on
M. James Ward
A long-time member of both the GWAA and MGWA. The 68-year-old has covered all facets in golf since 1980 — including reporting on over 100 major championships and 13 Ryder Cup matches. His writings have appeared in various outlets. On a personal level, has played over 2,000 courses globally and is lead reviewer for Top 100 Golf Courses.
Previously served for 17 years as national course rating panelist for Golf Digest. Has also personally competed in USGA Championships. Resides in the metro New York City area with his wife Celeste. Favorite quote paraphrased for golf — “You are what your golf score says you are.”