Sam Burns just one shot behind

An absolutely thrilled American Wyndham Clark won his second US Open at Shinnecock Hills, Southampton, New York (18-21 June) in a nail-biting finish.  Who was his biggest concurrent?  Well, it was not his playing partner, the World Number One Scottie Scheffler, it was another American by the name of Sam Burns who kept Clark on his toes.  Yes, Wyndham Clark’s Sunday lead, where he was six shots clear of the field, dwindled to a tiny one-shot victory for a celebratory 4-under par score.

 

England’s Tommy Fleetwood got off to a great start after he made birdies at the 2nd and 3rd to get into a tie for second place.

 

Moments later 32-year old Wyndham Clark had a good birdie chance at the first but had to settle for par.  Alas, Scottie Scheffler’s approach shot through the green and he ended-up making a bogey after missing a short putt to fall back to level par.  Clark now had a seven stroke advantage.

 

 

Twenty-nine year old Sam Burns, who was the 54-hole leader at the US Open at Oakmont last year, then came alive at the third hole where he made his second birdie of the day to claim second spot on his own at 2-under par.  More birdies followed at the 5th and 8th.  Burns then bogeyed the 9th and 15th before making another much-needed birdie at the 16th.

 

England’s Tyrrell Hatton had a great final day when he shot-up the leaderboard with a tremendous 3-under par 67 at Shinnecock Hills for a share of seventh place.  His effort earned him the title as best player from England.

 

Other English players who did well were Justin Rose, Aaron Rai, John Parry and Tommy Fleetwood who all finished in a tie for 11th on 2-over par.

 

Not such a solid start for Clark

 

Wyndham Clark was not looking so solid on Sunday.  In fact, he suffered three bogeys on the first nine.  It was not until the 10th that he made his first birdie.  Clark’s ball went through the green at the 5th.  His chip was too short and came running back down the slope.  He then holed a mighty putt from 24 feet to make bogey but, alas, slipped back to 5-under.

 

Burns made a terrific birdie at the 8th hole where he holed a lengthy putt from around 39 feet to get to 4-under.  Burns was getting really hot with his game and was now just two behind Clark.

 

And then, the magic began to happen for Sam Burns as Clark dropped a shot and so there was now just one shot between them.  As luck would have it, Burns then bogeyed the 9th hole.

 

At the 186-yard, par-3 7th hole it was a disaster for both Wyndham Clark and Scottie Scheffler.  They both landed in the sandbunker.  Scheffler struggled here and his ball rolled back into the sand where he splashed out and made two putts.  Clark played a super shot but then missed the 4-footer putt.  So Clark ended-up just one ahead of Sam Burns again.

 

Who else was in contention?

 

Americans Sahith Theegala and Sam Stevens, together with Tom Kim (Korea) were also in with a good chance of snatching the US Open trophy after finishing in a tie for second place after 54 holes.

 

 

Tom Kim played a level par round of 70 on Sunday to eventually take sole third place at Shinnecock Hills on a score of 1-under par.

 

Another American, Keith Mitchell, who was playing in his 20th Major, played his best golf ever by finishing in a tie for 4th.

 

If you’re wondering what happened to the early amateur leader, Ryder Cowan, well, he finished in a tie for the best amateur in the US Open with Jackson Koivun with a score of 5-over par for a share of 23rd spot.

 

Wyndham Clark carded two more bogeys on the back nine.  On the 15th, his ball nearly toppled into the hole for birdie.  However, on the 623-yard, par-5 16th he delighted the crowds with another birdie.  His score?  Clark was 4-under par.

 

On the 17th, Burns had a good chance to level with Clark but his putt stayed out of the hole.  The last hole was his only chance to force a play-off.  His putt shaved the hole but stayed above ground.  Burns had to settle for a score of 3-under par.

 

The 17th also cost Clark a bogey to reduce his advantage to one.  All he needed now was a solid par down the final hole to seize the US Open trophy.

At this point, Sam Burns was safely in the clubhouse after shooting a cracking round of 3-under par 67 for a 3-under par tally.  It was pretty nerve-racking for him as Wyndham Clark was not looking exactly solid.  Perhaps there would be a play-off?  Burns had to keep focussed.

 

 

On the 490-yard, par-4 18th, Clark was safely on the green for two.  All he needed was two solid putts for victory.  And that is exactly what the 32-year old from Denver did after leading the championship from day one.  He made a superb putt from 52-feet leaving himself with a wee tap-in for par.  For the second time in his career, Wyndham Clark is the US Open Champion.  And what is really wonderful is that yesterday was Father’s Day which proved an absolute delight for his father, Randall, who travelled to the course especially to see his son’s victory.

 

Wyndham Clark, the 2026 US Open Champion, we are absolutely delighted for you.  What a tremendous second Major victory!

 

 

Wendy Hoad

Editor

 

 

MAIN PHOTOGRAPH:  A delighted 2026 US Open Champion, Wyndham Clark.  BELOW (l-r): Sam Burns and Wyndham Clark.  MINIS (l-r): Scottie Scheffler, Tom Kim, and Best Amateurs, Ryder Cowan and Jackson Koivun.  BELOW: Wyndham Clark and his caddy stay focussed down the last.