Wyndham Clark edged Rory McIlroy in a thrilling final round at Los Angeles Country Club on Sunday to win the 2023 US Open and win his first major championship.
The American defeated the challenge of Northern Ireland’s four-time major winner to win the 123rd edition of the major by one shot despite having just one prior victory on the PGA Tour and never having previously made the cut.
Clark, 29, finished 10-under overall and took home a $3.6 million winner’s share of the record $20 million prize pool, the greatest sum ever given out in major history. He did this by shooting an even-par 70 in the final round.
Although the victory happened on Father’s Day, Clark honoured his mother Lise Clark, who passed away from breast cancer in 2013.
Earlier in the competition, the golfer from Denver had talked in-depth about her motivation, describing how she had given him the advice to “play big.” Mission firmly completed, Clark sobbed in his winner’s interview as he spoke about her.
“You know she can’t be here, but I just had the feeling that my mother was keeping an eye on me today.” Miss you, mum’, a tearful Clark replied.
“I’ve worked so hard and long for this time in my dreams. I’ve imagined being here in front of you all and winning this title so many times.I just believe that this is my moment.
2011 US Open winner McIlroy has been waiting nine years for his fifth major victory. Since winning The Open and PGA Championship in 2014, the 34-year-old has now been in the top five at ten major competitions.
McIlroy told reporters, “When I do finally win this next major, it’s going to be really, really sweet.”
“I would endure 100 Sundays just like this to win another major championship,” said the speaker.
Rickie Fowler will have to wait an even longer time because he started the final round tied for the lead with Clark. Unfortunately, a brutal final day slump ended his hopes of winning a coveted maiden major.
The 34-year-old got off to a historic start, shooting 62 to equal fellow American Xander Schauffele for the lowest round ever at the US Open. However, he finished with a 75, the fourth-highest score of the final round, dropping him to tied-fifth.
The bittersweet label of being one of the finest players to never win a major remains attached to the fan-favorite Californian. He finished second three times and finished in the top 10 eight times.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler finished third, one stroke ahead of Australian Cameron Smith in fourth, and three strokes behind Clark at seven under par.
Min Woo Lee of Australia and Tommy Fleetwood of England tied for fifth place with Fowler after a scorching final round, when Fleetwood came within millimetres of matching Fowler and Schauffele’s historic record.
Fleetwood scored two eagles and four birdies to move up the leaderboard 32 spots, but his final seven-foot birdie attempt agonisingly missed the mark, leaving him with a score of 63.
Both the defending champion Matt Fitzpatrick and the PGA Championship victor Brooks Koepka tied for 17th place overall at one-under par.
On July 20, The Open Championship, the year’s fourth and last men’s major, begins at Royal Liverpool Golf Club.
newer changes
Any aspirations Fowler had of starting over after a painful bogey end to his third round were immediately crushed. The world No. 45 had a terrible start, losing his first-ever 54-hole major lead as a result of a succession of misplaced tee shots and two bogeys in his opening six holes.
Clark profited once again, making three fast birdies down the same stretch. After 53 holes, he was two strokes behind Fowler; at the conclusion of the 60th, he was three strokes ahead.
Unfortunately for Clark, McIlroy was playing the final round with the poise that is appropriate for a player with a brilliant resume up front. With just one birdie before the turn and a missed chance at the eighth, the Northern Irishman wasn’t exactly lighting up the North Course, but only one bogey over his previous 23 holes kept him in reach.
A two-horse race was developing as Fowler kept falling, and it was clear who had the better pedigree. The world No. 32 was unflappable in new waters despite having twice as many major championships as Clark had major cuts before to the week.
Then the worst happened. At the edge of the eighth green, where he seemed to be in a horrible position amid the grass, Clark swung and raised his head to watch for a ball that never materialised. The American looked horrified as his ball stayed hidden in the tall grass.
It was a nightmare situation like to Viktor Hovland’s botched bunker escape at the PGA Championship last month, which dashed the major aspirations of players much more accomplished than Clark, but Clark handled it wonderfully. His second try, which was expertly performed, left him with a short putt for a bogey six.
Clark had a one-stroke lead over McIlroy as they approached the turn.
One-on-one
As soon as Fowler made back-to-back bogeys to drop two under eight-under overall, the score he had held after only 18 holes of the event, the possibility of a one-on-one shootout was all but certain.
At McIlroy’s 14th hole, drama followed as his approach shot was trapped in the wind and sank into the side of a bunker. The Northern Irishman sank to his knees in agony, but was given relief when authorities who enforce the rules determined that his ball had broken the surface, giving him a drop in the rough in front of the bunker.
However, the comfort was just momentary as his next nine-foot putt for par drifted wide. When McIlroy finally made a bogey, Clark subsequently made a birdie to punish him and gain three shots going into his last five holes.
But Clark’s first indication of anxiety came shortly after. The American made back-to-back bogeys as McIlroy, playing aggressively, put instant pressure with a birdie at the 16th hole. The advantage was suddenly down to one.
With a par, Clark brought the situation under control and carried a one-shot edge to the par-four 18th tee. A par away from winning the US Open, McIlroy’s long-range birdie attempt up ahead drifted just barely wide.
Hundreds of spectators crowded the fairway to follow Clark on what must have seemed like the longest walk of his life as he approached the green in two. Clark let himself a fist pump before stepping over and converting to win the title after bringing his approach to within a foot.
An exhausted Clark clutched his hat to his face and looked up after a lengthy hug with caddy John Ellis.
played really well.
More in Sports: https://buzzing.today/sports/
Photo Credits: https://commons.wikimedia.org/