Wyndham Clark held off charges by fellow major winners Xander Schauffele, Matt Fitzpatrick and Collin Morikawa to seize a four-stroke lead in Friday’s second round of the US Open at a blustery Shinnecock.
Clark, the 2023 US Open winner, curled in a 33-foot birdie putt at the 18th hole to fire a one-under-par 69 and stand on seven-under 133 for 36 holes.
“I had it on a good line and I almost really called it,” Clark said of his last putt. “I’m glad it went in. It was a great way to finish the round.”
Clark posted the lowest 36-hole US Open score ever at Shinnecock, his 133 sitting one under the old mark set by Phil Mickelson and Shigeki Maruyama back in 2004.
A second-place pack on 137 included England’s Fitzpatrick, South Korean Tom Kim and Americans Schauffele and Sam Stevens, with American Morikawa on 138.
On a gruelling 20-hole day, Clark parred his first 10, starting with two holes to complete a six-under 64 opening round after a severe fog delay prevented completion on Thursday.
The 32-year-old American began his second round with eight pars but lipped out a 43-foot birdie putt at the ninth, then missed a three-foot comeback effort.
“Had an awesome day yesterday and then came out today, wasn’t as good, but I really fought and hopefully this is the toughest day for me,” Clark said.
Clark sank a five-foot birdie putt at the 12th and added a birdie putt from just beyond 28 feet at the 13th, then made bogey at the par-five 16th before his closing birdie.
England’s Fitzpatrick fired a 70. The 2022 US Open winner had bogeys at the 11th, following a five-foot par putt miss, and the 12th, where his second shot struck a buggy path.
He birdied the par-five 16th from just inside 10 feet and sank a 13-foot birdie putt at the 18th.
“Two in the last three is always nice, especially at a US Open,” Fitzpatrick said. “Struggled a little bit off the tee on the back nine, but overall scrambled incredibly well to be where I am.”
Two-time major winner Schauffele, a back-nine starter, birdied three of his last four holes before the turn and sandwiched birdies at the fourth and sixth around his lone bogey in shooting a 66.
“Pretty pumped to come out and shoot something low,” Schauffele said. “It’s just a lot of patience and good golf shots, for the most part.”
Two-time major winner Morikawa made five birdies in his first 10 holes in shooting a 65. The American birdied the 15th and 16th but made bogey at the par-three 17th.
“I chipped it a lot better,” said Morikawa. “That’s the difference of kicking yourself out of a tournament, keeping yourself in it.”
Justin Thomas, a two-time winner of the PGA Championship, closed with a birdie at the ninth to shoot a 68 and stand on 139.
Others fell by the wayside.
Second-ranked Rory McIlroy began the back nine with three bogeys and erased birdies at the 13th and 14th with a double-bogey at the 15th in shooting a 71 to stand on 140.
“Back nine was a bit of a battle,” McIlroy said. “Couldn’t stop getting myself to hit it over the back of the green… still feel like I’m in the tournament and in with a decent chance.”
Top-ranked Scottie Scheffler, who would complete a career Grand Slam with a victory, shot a 68 to stand on 140.
Two-time major winner Dustin Johnson pulled within a stroke of Clark with a birdie on the 10th, only to double-bogey the par-three 11th and bogey the 12th and 13th on his way to a 77 to finish on 143.
Fellow American Gary Woodland, the 2019 US Open winner, began with a birdie but made bogeys on four of the next six holes and shot a 73 to stand on 140.
Those missing the cut included two-time major winners Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm, defending champion JJ Spaun and Australian Adam Scott in his 100th consecutive major.
AFP
