Wyndham Clark stands alone on the 2026 U.S. Open.
On Saturday, as different rivals within the discipline struggled on the notoriously troublesome Shinnecock Hills course, Clark remained composed, capturing a 70 to take a commanding six-stroke lead into Sunday’s closing spherical.
The 2023 U.S. Open champion, who led coming into Saturday, is seeking to develop into the primary 36-hole chief to win the U.S. Open since Jack Nicklaus in 1980. His present rating (-7) can also be on observe to be the bottom rating by a U.S. Open champ in 4 earlier 72-hole tournaments held at Shinnecock.
Just one golfer has ever misplaced a significant after taking a six-stroke lead into the ultimate 18 holes: Greg Norman on the 1996 Masters.
Wyndham Clark’s putter saves the day heading into U.S. Open fourth spherical
Even with a number of probabilities to stumble, Clark averted any extended dive, placing himself in a implausible place of incomes his second grand slam victory. His up-and-down recreation was implausible as he struggled for the primary time this event at hitting greens in regulation.
Per U.S. Open stats, Clark reached the inexperienced with two putts to par on 28-of-36 (77.8 p.c) holes through the first two rounds. On Saturday, that charge plummeted to 50 p.c (9-of-18), however the PGA Tour’s No. 34-ranked golfer escaped largely unscathed with a number of par-saving putts. A number of got here early on the again 9, together with at Nos. 10, 11 and 13, the latter probably the most unlikely, given 26 p.c odds of constructing the opening earlier than the putt.
