Wyndham Clark Holds Commanding Six-Shot Lead Entering Final Round of 2026 U.S. Open
SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — Wyndham Clark is on the verge of claiming his second U.S. Open title after building a commanding six-shot lead heading into Sunday’s final round at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club.
The 32-year-old American, who captured his first major championship at the 2023 U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club, has been in dominant fashion throughout the tournament. After opening rounds of 64 and 69, Clark has outperformed the field by combining his powerful tee-to-green game with exceptional putting that currently leads the tournament.
Clark’s Confidence After Past Success
Clark acknowledged the difference between chasing his first major and now defending his status as a champion.
“I’m definitely a lot more confident and believe I can do it. I would say there were still doubts in 2023,” Clark said. “I hadn’t done it yet, so there were a lot of unknowns. Now that I’ve done it, I know I can do it, and I can do it again.”
His performance this week stands in stark contrast to his experience at last year’s U.S. Open at Oakmont, where he was publicly criticized for destroying lockers in a fit of rage.
Shinnecock Hills Shows Its Teeth
The notoriously difficult Long Island course has evolved throughout the week. After two days of soft conditions and receptive greens that allowed for aggressive play, warm weather and wind have dried out the layout dramatically.
“The course has changed so much,” Clark said. “It was very soft and it was easier to play more aggressively. The fairways became rock hard, so I turned my irons a little more.”
The firming conditions were evident on Saturday, when Shinnecock’s famous Poa annua greens were significantly faster and bumpier, especially later in the day. Both Clark and his closest competitor, Scottie Scheffler, missed putts within five feet on the 18th hole during the third round.
Scheffler Mounts Late Charge to Reach Final Group
World number one Scottie Scheffler, who turns 30 on Sunday, fought his way into the final pairing by shooting a one-under 69. He made four birdies on the back nine, including three in a row starting with a chip-in on the 14th hole.
Scheffler was one of only two players to shoot under par on Saturday, when the course played its most difficult. Emiliano Grillo posted the day’s best round with a three-under 67, playing hours ahead of the leaders.
“Yesterday the fairways started to get firmer. Today the greens started to get firmer,” Scheffler said. “You saw pretty green grass and then very brown grass, so it was a little puzzling how the ball would react when it hit the green. That’s just part of the challenge at the U.S. Open, assessing the conditions, getting in the right spots and hitting great shots.”
Clark Remains Focused on the Task Ahead
Despite his substantial lead, Clark is taking nothing for granted with Scheffler lurking and Shinnecock expected to present its stiffest test yet on Sunday.
“Scottie is the best player in the world and he’ll probably play really well,” Clark said. “He always does, but it’s nice to have a six-shot lead over him. But basically I’m just going to approach it the same way. If I go out there and execute, do my process and hit the shots that I know I can hit, then I like my chances.”
Clark’s dominance through three rounds draws comparisons to Martin Kaymer’s wire-to-wire victory at the 2014 U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2, where Kaymer led from the first round and won by eight shots.
Other Contenders and Canadian Representation
Behind Scheffler at one under par, Tom Kim (72), Sahith Theegala (70) and Sam Stevens (72) round out the upper echelon of the leaderboard. Xander Schauffele (73), Sam Burns (71), Scott Mitchell (70), and Emiliano Grillo (67) are tied in another group.
Corey Conners is the lone Canadian to make the cut. After briefly reaching red numbers with a birdie on the eighth hole, he made four bogeys in his next five holes before recovering to finish with a one-over 71.
“I had a sloppier stretch in the middle of the round,” Conners said. “I got into some tough spots and didn’t hit a few shots the way I wanted. I got punished and it was hard to make a few pars there for a while.”
Conners finished his round in style with a birdie on the 18th, hitting a 357-yard drive and sticking his wedge approach within a foot of the pin. He enters Sunday tied for 13th at two over par.
The final round of the 126th U.S. Open begins Sunday at Shinnecock Hills, with Clark seeking to join the select group of golfers to win multiple U.S. Open titles.
