Wyndham Clark holds a commanding six-stroke lead heading into the final round of the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, putting him in a strong position to claim his second major title. The 2023 champion is seven under par through 54 holes, while Scottie Scheffler, Tom Kim, Sahith Theegala, and Sam Stevens are tied for second at one under.
Clark, who tees off at 2:30 p.m. (1830 GMT) alongside Scheffler, has history on his side. Of the 21 players who led by six shots or more heading into the final round of a major, all but one have gone on to win. The U.S. Open, known for its challenging conditions, lived up to its reputation as some of golf's top players struggled on Saturday.
Rory McIlroy and Aaron Rai, both former major winners, dropped out of contention with high scores on the back nine. McIlroy finished with a 73 to sit three over for the tournament, while Rai carded a 72.
Clark has expressed disappointment with the sparse crowds during his final round, attributing the thin galleries to late tee times and competing events. 'It was kind of unfortunate that we're finishing in the dark and people weren't really out there because there were some obviously key, big moments,' Clark said. 'It did kind of get a little flat.'
The USGA has faced criticism for the logistical challenges of getting fans to and from the Long Island course, particularly with the final groups teeing off as late as 3:45 p.m. Many spectators reportedly left early to catch trains back to New York City, leaving the grandstands with empty seats.
Clark remains optimistic that the crowds will be more engaged on Sunday. 'Hopefully tomorrow there's a bunch of fans and stuff, but for me, it's still really important, and I still felt the moment,' he said. 'It's just maybe unfortunate that there weren't all the people there.'
The U.S. Open has been praised for its course setup this year, avoiding the controversies of previous editions at Shinnecock Hills. The USGA aimed for a balanced test, allowing for competitive scoring while maintaining the tournament's tough reputation.