History was going to be made Sunday at Shinnecock Hills. But the particulars were in doubt until 6:46 p.m. ET.
The good kind, the bad kind, something rare, something original? It wasn’t until Wyndham Clark’s birdie putt on the 72nd hole nestled 9 inches left of the hole that history solidified:
Wyndham Clark, two-time U.S. Open champion.
Clark, the 2023 winner at Los Angeles Country Club, became the ninth player in championship history to win wire-to-wire and the 24th multiple champ. He fought to a 3-over 73 Sunday on Long Island, good enough to finish at 4 under par, one clear of Sam Burns.
Burns closed in 3-under 67 for his third-consecutive U.S. Open top 10 and his best-ever major result. Tom Kim (70) finished alone in third place at 1 under. Scottie Scheffler (71), J.T. Poston (67) and Keith Mitchell (70) tied for fourth at even par.
After tapping in for the final stroke of the 126th edition, which annually concludes on Father’s Day, Clark was eventually greeted by his dad, Randall, who took a redeye from Denver to surprise his son.
“So proud of you!” Randall repeatedly said as they hugged.
The triumph came one year after Clark left Oakmont Country Club having damaged a pair of lockers. He was maligned – rightfully so, even by his own accord – by the public and the press. There were other incidents last year, like violently throwing his driver and damaging a sign at the PGA Championship. Though many doubted the level of his contrition in the aftermath, Clark has apologized repeatedly this year and vowed that he is a better person. And, what is certainly clear, a better player.
Clark won the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, closing in 60 to finish at 30 under. Four weeks later, he shot 64-69-70 to lead after each of the first three rounds in Southampton.
He began Sunday with a six-shot lead, having bogeyed his 54th hole Saturday to raise eyebrows, though not outright suspicion that an epic fail was possible.
If anyone was going to tighten the collar, it was going to be Scheffler. Or so it seemed. Scheffler was not only playing in the final pairing alongside Clark, but Sunday was his 30th birthday and a victory would complete the career Grand Slam. Talk about history.
Instead, it was Scheffler’s best friend, Sam Burns, who applied the early pressure with three birdies in his first five holes. After a Clark bogey on the second, the gap was three shots.
There were eight players who began the day at 1 under or even par. Burns, one of the four at even, was the only guy who got past 2 under on Sunday.
The 29-year-old, five-time Tour winner was trying to script a redemptive arc. The 36- and 54-hole leader a year ago at Oakmont, Burns ultimately shot 8-over 78 in a soggy and temporarily suspended final round. Burns made two back-nine double bogeys, including on the 15th hole where he was controversially denied casual-water relief from a wet spot in the fairway.
If not history, it appeared fate might be on Burns’ side. He made a 49-footer for birdie on No. 8 to reach 4 under par. When Clark bogeyed the fifth, the gap was just one.
Others made mostly idle threats. Scheffler bogeyed his first hole and never gathered momentum. He made only two birdies and only briefly got as close as three strokes.
Kim managed to get within two at 2 under. But after making birdie on the par-5 16th and turning to fans to yell, “C’mon!”, he hit his tee shot into a greenside bunker on the par-3 17th and gave it right back with a bogey.
Bogeys were too common for Clark early Sunday as he had three of them in a front-nine 38. Yet, he remained one clear of Burns entering the back. At the par-4 10th, Clark hit a 347-yard drive, leaving himself 61 yards from a severely uphill pin placement. He managed to spin a wedge to 4 feet and made his first birdie of the day.
When Burns, three pairings ahead, bogeyed the 15th, the difference was again three shots.
Much to the chagrin of vocal New York crowd.
Who were they pulling for? Definitely Scheffler, to whom they sang “Happy Birthday” on the first hole. And definitely not Clark. Others were treated as most are in the final round of a major — cheers for good moments, groans for bad ones.
Throughout the day, you could hear yells like, “Get in the bunker!” after Clark made contact – even on putts. NBC reported that hecklers – with an ‘s’ – had been escorted off the property by police.
When Clark missed an 8-footer to save par on the par-4 13th, cheers rang. When Burns made a 17-footer for birdie on the 16th, the crowd roared.
The gap was again one.
Burns, who is statistically one of the best putters on the PGA Tour, had a chance to draw even with a 9’9” birdie putt on the par-3 17th – but missed. He had another chance with a 16’5” birdie putt on the par-4 18th – but again missed, grazing the right side of the hole and dropping Burns to his knees.
Minutes later, NBC cameras showed him in disbelief in the scoring trailer, fully leaning back in his chair with both hands on his head. He then headed out to the range on this Father’s Day with his 2-year-old son Bear, hoping for a playoff (or better).
Clark still had three holes to play. His best scoring opportunity was No. 16, playing as the second-easiest hole in the final round, but hit his tee shot into the fescue and into what on-course reporter Jim “Bones” Mackay called a “horrendously bad lie.”
Clark told his caddie, David “Big Wave Dave” Pelekoudas, that he had this shot, and played a beauty back into the fairway. He then hit his third shot 24 feet behind the hole.
Saturday, Clark salvaged his round – and increased his 36-hole lead – by making some 50 feet worth of par putts. Sunday, he made a few and missed a few. He made the 24-foot birdie on 16. He missed a 6-foot par on 17.
Just as it did four years ago, the U.S. Open came down to Clark on the final hole. And just as he did four years ago, Clark two-putted for par and a one-stroke win.
And, finally, some welcomed and well deserved applause.
“New York didn’t really like me,” Clark said with a chuckle. “I love you guys. But, you know, I get it. Some of it’s self-deserved. I did some unfortunate things last year that I really regret and I’ve been sorry multiple times, and I’m still sorry so hopefully I can win you guys over eventually.
“But I get it, they root for Scottie. The Grand Slam’s only happened a few times. He’s going to get it, he’s the best player in the world.
“But today, it’s my day.”