SOUTHAMPTON, NY. Over the course of a 72-hole tournament, there will be a number of key shots – both good and bad — that can set in motion momentum that sets the pathway to victory or can cause a fatal slide down the leaderboard.

Wyndham Clark’s play during the first two rounds of the 126th US Open at Shinnecock Hills was superlative with rounds of 64-69. His 133 total at the halfway point of the championship was the lowest score for the opening two rounds in any championship played on the famed Long Island layout.

Entering Saturday’s 3rd round, Clark had built a four-shot edge over five other players.

Unlike his play during the opening two rounds — Clark showcased inconsistent play throughout the day. After bogeying the par-4 15th and seeing his lead shrink to five shots
Clark sent a loud and clear message when reaching the par-5 16th with a rousing 3-metal second shot from 275 yards away.

Clark played his patented fade and the ball landed gently on the green and stopped a mere four feet from the hole. He then poured the putt in for an eagle — the only such score surrendered at the hole for the duration of the championship.

The impact of that eagle would prove crucial heading into Sunday’s final round.

Entering the final round with a six-shot lead, Clark showed signs of distress by scoring a three-over-par 38 on the outward nine.

Even with a birdie at the 10th, Clark’s play was concerning. When he bogied the par-4 13th the one-time imposing lead had now shrunk to two shots. When Clark reached the par-5 16th, his closest pursuer Sam Burns had birdied the hole and the margin had dissipated to just one shot.

Clark’s tee shot on the 623-yard was pulled into deep fescue grass on the left side. After a prolonged discussion with his caddie, Clark opted to hack his ball out of the deep ensnaring grass covered ball. Clark’s standing in the championship was most certainly at risk.

His prodigious strength propelled the ball down the fairway. An 8-iron approach shot followed finding the rear of the green roughly 22 feet from the hole.

Clark’s putt was a testing one — moving uphill gently before sliding downhill to the hole. His stroke was totally on point — the ball splitting the hole in two before disappearing to the bottom.

The 16th has proved critical in past US Opens at Shinnecock Hills. In 1986, winner Ray Floyd scored a crucial birdie helping his pathway to the title. Eighteen years later South African Retief Goosen made birdie there in his victory march. And at the 2018 championship it was winner Brooks Koepka who made a critical putt — also for birdie – that helped him the event and defend the title he captured the year prior.

Clark’s birdie at 16 provided a much-needed two-shot edge over Burns who failed to make a tying birdie at both the 17th and 18th holes.

Even though Clark three-putted the 17th for bogey — his concluding par at the finishing hole after two-putting from 52 feet away provided a one-shot winning margin.

In the final two rounds Clark played hole 16 in a total of just seven shots. US Opens routinely have a number of essential moments. When the physical and mental duress players face can be the ticket to either joyful elation or maddening exasperation.

Clark’s play at hole 16 during the final two rounds was a clear differentiator in having him secure his second US Open championship.

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Final round failure for world number one.

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