Clark lines up his important eagle putt at the 16th today – image USGA Logan Whitton

Wyndham Clark will take a six-shot lead into tomorrow’s final round of the US Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, Long Island, after a missed four-foot par putt on the last hole gave his closest pursuers perhaps a glimmer of hope.

Clark, who led by three after the first round, four after 36 holes and now six, bogeyed the opening hole today. Sam Stevens, playing in the group ahead and starting four shots back, birdied the first to cut the gap to two.

That was as close as the chasers came in round three. Clark reached the turn in one-over 36, then produced a superb display of par-saving golf before moving to eight under for the tournament at the par-five 16th, where his 250-yard approach finished four feet from the hole and he converted for eagle, the first of the week at that hole

Clark’s 36-hole challengers had largely fallen away by the time he stood over his second shot from the rough on the 18th with a seven-shot lead. A three-putt from the edge of the green reduced the margin to six, but he still left the course in firm control.

Clark was visibly frustrated with his play after his missed par putt at the last, but he had composed himself by the time he reached the media centre.

“It was very up and down, holy smokes,” he said. “I hit some good shots; I hit some terrible shots. I was a little frustrated with some of the execution.

“At the end of the day, I improved my lead, which is awesome, and I shot even par on a very tough golf course.”

“The more time passes after the round, the more accepting I am of some of the mistakes I made. Overall, it was a good day.

“I’ve become much better at moving on, treating each shot as its own challenge rather than dwelling on how I got there. Now I focus on the shot in front of me, embrace the challenge and try to hit the best shot I can.”

“That is huge in golf. In the past, especially when I was playing poorly, I let previous shots or holes affect the next one. Improving that has probably helped me the most.”

Leads of this size can be difficult to manage, with players often unsure whether to protect the advantage or keep pushing. Clark has been in contention before, although when he won at Los Angeles Country Club in 2023, he was tied for the lead after 54 holes before beating Rory McIlroy by one shot.

Clark must now manage a six-shot lead while playing alongside one of his nearest challengers in tomorrow’s final round: world number one Scottie Scheffler.

“Scottie is the best player in the world, and he is probably going to play very well,” Clark said. “He always does, but it is nice to have a six-shot lead on him.”

“I’m going to keep approaching it the same way. If I execute, stick to my process and hit the shots I know I can hit, I like my chances.”

“We’ll address that when we get to it. I’m not focused on my lead; it is more about reaching a number that I believe will give me a strong chance.”

Several players remain within reach if Clark falters tomorrow. Eleven are between six and eight shots off the lead and a strong under par finishing round might just put the cat amongst the pigeons in the event of Clark struggles.

Scottie Scheffler emerged with a back nine of 32 today as seemingly Clark’s biggest threat. Scheffler opened with consecutive bogeys but put together an outstanding back nine, which could have been so much better and the final day even more intriguing but for two missed putts from inside 6 feet at the 17^th and 18^th.

I mean, I’d rather be leading (laughing),” said Scheffler when asked his thoughts about tomorrow.

“No, I mean, after three days, like I said, I’ve been — we’ve been battling hard for a few days, and I did a good job of keeping myself in the tournament. I’ll need a really nice round tomorrow if I’m going to try and catch Wyndham.

“I have an opportunity to go out there and have a great round and give myself a chance to win the tournament.”

Not only is it Father’s Day tomorrow, but it is Scheffler’s 30^th birthday, and whether he can celebrate both occasions with a victory remains to be seen.

It might seem like a fait accompli tomorrow, but strange things happen on Sunday in major championship golf and tomorrow might yet be a fight to the finish.

Before this week, 21 players have had a 6+ shot lead entering the final round of a major championship.  Twenty went on to win.  The exception is Greg Norman at the 1996 Masters (shot 78 in the final round and lost to Nick Faldo by five strokes).

Ryan Fox, the only Australasian to make the weekend, lost virtually no ground with his round of 74 to be at 7 over and tied for 47^th.

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Wyndham Clark surveying a putt today – image Dustin Satlof USGA

2023 Champion, Wyndham Clark, has control of the US Open at Shinnecock Hills, returning to the course early this morning to complete his opening round of 64 and then adding a second round of 69 to be at 7 under and ahead by four.

Clark was up at 4.00 am to complete his round after play had been called late in his opening round at 8.30pm on Thursday.

He finished off his opening round with pars to finish with his round of 64 to lead by three over Mathew Fitzpatrick and Gary Woodland, and then, after a slow start to his second round, put together a second round of 69, including a 25-foot birdie putt at the last, to lead by four over Matthew Fitzpatrick and Xander Schauffele when he walked off the course.

Later, Sam Stevens and Tom Kim joined the group at 3 under and four off the lead, with Collin Morikawa another shot back.

Only eleven players are under par at the halfway stage, but a massive 34 players are within just four shots of the lead, and so, subject to Clark’s performance over the weekend, so many of that group must still feel they are very much in the hunt.

Included in that large group are Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy at even par, both no doubt feeling that, although seven from the lead, they are very much in contention for a second US Open in the case of McIlroy and the chance to complete the Grand Slam for Scheffler.

Ryan Fox – in action during today’s second round – image Dustin Satloff  USGA

Of the six Australasians who teed it up on Thursday, only one, Ryan Fox, has made it to the weekend, the New Zealander adding one late birdie on his return to the course this morning to finish his opening round and then completing a second round of  73 to be at 3 over and tied for 46th and safely inside the cutline of 4 over par.

An agonising four-putt double bogey at his 7th hole on day two put paid to an otherwise impressive effort, but he is still well enough placed given the congestion amongst the field, Clark aside.

Cameron Smith and Lucas Herbert are at 6 over, Min Woo Lee at 7 over, and Adam Scott at 8 over. Jason Day was forced to withdraw halfway through his opening round with back issues.

Clark is steadily rebuilding his reputation after one or two temper tantrums on the golf course, including at last year’s US Open, when he missed the cut by one and took his anger out on the locker room at Oakmont.

“Yeah, I’ve gotten a lot of grief since last year, rightfully so,” said the leader. “The unfortunate thing is that’s not who I am, what happened last year.

“I’m hoping I can win back the fans that I had or some new fans because it was a terrible incident. You know, I really feel like I can show people that I’m fun and outgoing, I’m fierce, competitive, love the game, respect the game, and I just had a bad moment. Hopefully, I can win those people back.

“Yeah, I definitely feel like I’m in a better place. Hopefully a great weekend and a great rest of the year, maybe I’ll gain all those fans back.

“I was on top of the world in my game at least when I won the U.S. Open and then had some good years. Then the next thing you know, I’m apologizing for breaking a locker the year later.

“I just think with the mental game there’s ebbs and flows. If you think of it as climbing Everest, sometimes you go up, sometimes you have to go down to go back up.

“I think that’s kind of what happens both on the golf course and off the golf course. Right now I’m trending back up, which is nice. So, yeah, I kind of look at it that way.

Clark seemingly lost his way after his major championship breakthrough at the Los Angeles Golf Club but pays a lot of credit to his improved play of late to meeting his coach, Patrick Coyner, earlier this year.

His most recent results, which have included a win at the Byron Nelson and a 3rd place at the Memorial, tell the story of his game getting back to where it was.

“Well, Pat, it’s pretty crazy,” added Clark. “I’ve been on my own for three years with my golf swing, and I just got a membership at Cherry Hills. Pat just started working there as an instructor. I didn’t really know him. I kind of knew a lot of people — kind of knew of him.

“I was hitting balls one day and just asked him, like, hey, what do you think? He goes, honestly, I mean, I look at a few things that how you’re swinging in ’23 and ’22, and you’re way longer, you’re kind of cupped, your wrist isn’t flat, X, Y, and Z. He goes, if we could just get you back to ’23 by the start of January 1, like some of those moves, and then continue to get better as the year goes on, and he’s done that.

“I mean, I’ve gained so much control with my irons. Now I think of myself as a good iron player. Now I’m starting to hit driver a lot straighter.

“So if I can hit it in the fairway, I feel like I’m pretty deadly.”

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Every reason to be smiling after his impressive start – Wyndham Clark – image USGA/Logan Whitton

At 8.25 pm local time, round one of the 2026 US Open at Shinnecock Hills was suspended due to darkness, play having been delayed for two hours much earlier in the day when fog caused the suspension of play after play had been under way for just 30 minutes or so.

When play was called, Wyndham Clark had saved par from a bunker to the left of the 7^th green (his 16^th hole of the day) to remain at 6 under par, and he headed to the clubhouse with, still, two holes to play, holding a four-shot lead over a large group at 2 under, four of whom had yet to finish their opening rounds.

Amongst that group at 2 under were four former US Open champions, namely Dustin Johnson who had just double bogeyed his 15^th hole, Matthew Fitzpatrick who has 12 feet left for a possible birdie at his 16^th hole when he returns tomorrow, Gary Woodland who has a 30 footer for birdie at his 16^th hole and Jon Rahm who is playing the 14^th hole and is 74 yards from the hole with his 3^rd shot at the par 5.

So things might change when those yet to finish return to the course early on Friday morning, but Clark has been simply brilliant in his opening round effort.

Making the turn at 3 under 32, Clark bogeyed his 11^th hole, but then came two birdies and an eagle in his next three and with two holes to play, his four-shot lead might even be extended when he completes his round.

“Obviously, getting off to a great start was good,” said Clark. “Birdieing the first two was really nice. Then I kind of had a little bit of a lull, but made some great par saves. It was great birdieing 18 (his 9^th).

“Then a little mishap, missed a shorty on 1 and then a bogey on 2, but then got into a nice rhythm. Yeah, everything was kind of clicking. We were definitely fortunate with the wind laying down. Overall, a good round.

“I would say when I got my tee times on Tuesday, I was like, oh, it could be a tough draw. That two-hour fog delay was very helpful, and it was really nice it laid down. So it definitely helped those last six, seven holes we played.”

There are several other heavyweights at 1 under and five from the lead including Rory McIlroy who faced the force of the winds through much of his round of 69. When he finished his round, it appeared that he might very well be amongst the day one leaders before the winds lessened later in the day and the demanding layout became just a little bit more generous.

Ryan Fox heads the Australasians at this stage – image USGA

The leading Australasian at this stage is Ryan Fox, who was putting together an impressive opening effort when he fought his way to 1 under through 12 holes before bogeys at his 15^th and 16^th holes and a par at the 17^th had him at 1 over and in a share of 29^th with one hole to play on Friday morning.

Adam Scott, playing his 100^th consecutive major, finished with a round of 73 to be at 3 over and in a share of 76^th, shares the second leading Australasian position with Min Woo Lee, who has four holes to play in round one tomorrow.

Lucas Herbert finished with 74, Cameron Smith 75 and Jason Day was forced to withdraw with a back injury after playing several holes.

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Adam Scott – acknowledging the crowd after his 2013 Masters victory, his 47th consecutive major start – image Masters Tournament 

At Shinnecock Hills in Southampton, New York, on Thursday, Australia’s Adam Scott will tee it up in his 101^st major championship, but his 100^th in succession, becoming just the second person in the history of the game, after Jack Nicklaus, to reach that milestone, Nicklaus’ amazing run of 146 stretching from the 1962 Masters Tournament through to the 1998 US Open.

The number of US Opens Scott has played in the past (24) has him as the player with the most starts in the event in this week’s field. Justin Rose, with 21, is the only other player competing this week with more than 20 appearances.

Whichever way you look at it, the achievement of maintaining a game in good enough shape to gain entry to that many major championships is phenomenal.

In his pre-tournament media conference today, Scott was asked his thoughts on the approaching milestone.

“Yeah, it’s an interesting one, as I’ve thought about it over the last couple of weeks, obviously this week getting closer. I found it difficult at first to reflect on something while I’m still playing. I think I’ve never really been one to dwell on milestones. I think it’s something I’ll probably do at the end of my career.

“However, it’s resonated a little bit more with me the last few days, and from people close to me, to my sponsors and partners, I’m so appreciative of everyone recognizing this. It’s a strange one because it’s not something you really set out to do or aim for.

“But in all honesty, since Pinehurst a couple of years ago, it was kind of on my radar. Earlier this year, as I wasn’t automatically qualified for this event, it became a bit of a weight on my shoulders, making sure I got here.

“It’s been fun. I had a photograph with Jack Nicklaus a couple of weeks ago at his Memorial Tournament, and he’s the other guy who made it to a hundred in a row. He, in fact, made it way past that, and I can’t even think about playing another 11 or 12 years straight of these, but I’m really excited for this week.”

Scott was further asked as to the key to such longevity.

“I would say, probably overall, a certain level of focus has been required over the 25 years to maintain, I’ll call it golf at this elite level, major championship level. It has taken a lot of focus to do that.

“I think there are lots of little things you could break down after that, but I’m quite proud that I’ve managed to keep my focus this long and keep pushing through. Obviously, not all years and all weeks out here are easy, and you’re playing full of confidence.”

Scott’s stretch might have been halted at 93 when he was forced to attend final qualifying in 2024 and finished as the first alternate at his venue. Soon after, however, Grayson Murray, who took his own life when he was the 61st-ranked golfer in the world, opened the door for Scott, who was then 61^st in the world, to take his place in the field as a result of the leading 60-ranked world golfers earning the right to play.

Of the 100 he has played already (including the 2001 Open Championship, which is not included in the run of consecutive events), Scott has made the cut on 74 occasions and been inside the top three on six occasions, his win at the 2013 Masters the standout along with his near miss when runner-up to Ernie Els at Royal Lytham and St Annes in 2012.

Adam Scott is a testament to longevity and, even at the age of still just 45, is considered by many to be one of the great statesmen of the game, his measured but well-thought-through opinions on the game and its administration valued by players, administrators, and golf fans worldwide.

Scott trails only Karrie Webb in terms of the number of majors played by Australians. Webb played 100 in her 23 years at that level, while Greg Norman competed in 90.

Not only has Scott become a highly regarded spokesperson for the game, but his golf has withstood the passage of time, continuing to compete at close to the highest level despite the rapid changes in technology and fitness, and as a father of three, he has displayed a great ability to compartmentalise his life in a manner that allows him to continue his remarkable run at such a level.

At Shinnecock Hills this week, Scott will play his 25^th US Open, two of those played at this venue. In both 2004 and 2018, Scott missed the cut at this venue. In fact, in four competitive rounds at Shinnecock Hills, Scott has not recorded a round better than 75, so his performance this week will be of much interest.

“I love Shinnecock,” added Scott. “I’ve played here a fair amount socially over the years. This is my third U.S. Open here. I haven’t played well in either U.S. Open, which is really disappointing to me, but hoping to change that this week.

“I still love the golf course. I think it’s as good as any test we have at the U.S. Open.

“I came up straight here from Ohio and played from last Thursday. I’ve played four practice rounds, and I came with a blank slate. It’s funny how when you play poorly at an event, you can forget about what went on, and I really don’t remember much of ’18 from a playing perspective.

“Came here excited on Thursday and really felt like I had a fresh look at the golf course and a fresh take and felt comfortable straight away. I think the green complexes aren’t dissimilar to playing into Royal Melbourne style greens. At least that’s what I’m telling myself, and that’s a comfortable place for me.

“I’m looking at it with a fresh set of eyes this week and feel like I’m much more prepared at this point than I was at the last two here.”

Deservedly, there will be a lot of attention on Scott’s milestone this week, and it is hoped that he can at least make it to the weekend so that his remarkable achievement gets the full recognition it deserves, and for him to continue his remarkable run as one of the game’s most impressive performers, irrespective of age.

Ryan Fox – file image PGA of America

New Zealand’s Ryan Fox might not have been able to successfully defend his RBC Canadian Open title this week near Toronto, but he gave every indication his game was in good shape to tackle next week’s US Open at Shinnecock Hills when he finished in a share of 8^th place after getting into a share of 3^rd place midway through his closing nine.

Fox was languishing at even par for the day and well off the pace when he reached the turn, but then came a hole out for eagle from 80 yards at the 12^th, and three consecutive birdies from the 14^th to open the door for a possible successful defence.

Bogeys at the 17^th and 18^th, however, and a relentless finish from first-time PGA Tour winner, Bid Cauley saw him finish five off the lead.

Cauley was playing his 239^th PGA Tour event, but until today, his best result had been when 3^rd on three occasions, much of his early career curtailed by a car accident during the Memorial Tournament in 2018, complications from which eventually kept him from playing competitively for three years.

Cauley finished two ahead of Matthew Fitzpatrick, who takes over as the leader in the FedEx Cup standings courtesy of his three wins earlier this season and now this runner-up placing.

Fox now heads to Shinnecock Hills to play his 8^th US Open, in which he has a best of 19^th in 2025.

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