Windham Clark Leads U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills

Windham Clark put on a strong performance Saturday at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, a course known for its firmness and fast greens. Despite Scottie Scheffler’s impressive play on the back nine, Clark managed to maintain some distance as the world number one.

Clark, who previously won at Los Angeles Country Club in 2023 and had a controversial moment at Oakmont Country Club last year, worked diligently to avoid the pitfalls that claimed many players. He shot even par, bringing his weekend total to 7 under. His eagle putt on the 16th hole gave him a significant advantage. At one point, he was leading Scheffler and the competition by a solid six strokes.

When asked about his condition heading into Sunday, Scheffler explained, “I’ve been fighting hard the last few days,” indicating he needed to put together a solid round to have a chance to catch Clark.

In a poetic twist, it seemed Clark had an instinct about his performance on the 16th hole, where he made an eagle putt to reach 8 under. This came about an hour after his round finished. Clark demonstrated that his strong opening round of 6-under 64 was no accident, as he extended his stroke count with a birdie on the fifth hole. However, after bogeying the eighth, he rebounded with a remarkable shot on the 14th that landed just five feet from the pin, putting him back to 7 under.

This tournament was quite different for players like Rory McIlroy and Cameron Young, who found themselves out of contention. McIlroy struggled on the back nine, finishing five over, while Young faced more challenges in his attempt for a major title. Other players, like Dylan Wu and Chris Gotterup, also had frustrating moments, missing easy putts early on.

As Shinnecock showcased its classic challenges, Clark matched it with a vintage performance, recovering from a bogey on the 15th with his eagle.

Yet, Scheffler’s strong play threatened to cut into Clark’s lead. After a rocky start with two bogeys, Scheffler found his rhythm on the back nine, making birdies on the 10th and 14th. However, a missed eagle putt on the 16th, followed by a missed putt on the 18th, left him with a par, which could be significant on Father’s Day.

Around Clark, competitors started to emerge. Sahith Segala shot an even-par 70, remaining at 1 under, while Tom Kim finished 2 over and tied for second. Emiliano Grillo had a solid day, posting a 3-under 67, highlighted by four consecutive birdies on the front nine.

Ultimately, Sunday is expected to belong to Clark, who has consistently led throughout the week. While Scheffler will be in contention, Clark emphasized that being the world number one could quickly change in the tense atmosphere of Shinnecock.