Wyndham Clark did all of his scoring Thursday, but needed a few pars Friday to wrap up a 6-under 64 in Round 1 of the 126th U.S. Open.
Clark was 6 under par through 16 holes, four shots clear of the field when play was suspended Thursday night at Shinnecock Hills, which endured a two-hour fog suspension near the start of the championship.
Clark returned Friday morning to par the eighth and ninth holes, his 17th and 18th, to shoot the lowest first-round score ever at a Shinnecock Open. It was the second-lowest score in any U.S. Open round at this venue, one shy of Tommy Fleetwood’s closing 63 in 2018.
It was also the second time Clark has shot 64 to open the Open. The last time? 2023 at LA Country Club, where he won.
Players did, however, gain a little ground in the early-morning hours. Dustin Johnson, the 2016 U.S. Open winner, collected a couple of birdies to shoot 4-under 66. Gary Woodland, the 2019 champ, finished at 3 under alongside 2022 winner Matt Fitzpatrick.
Jon Rahm, yet another former champ (2021), parred his final 10 holes to shoot 2-under 68.
The second round was well underway by the time the first round wrapped. Clark teed off roughly a half-hour after signing his card.
