Clark in control of US Open as wind hinders McIlroy and Scheffler

Jack Turner

4 days ago7 min read

Wyndham Clark seized command of the 123rd US Open on Friday, opening a commanding four-shot lead at the halfway stage of the championship at Los Angeles Country Club. The American, who has never won a major, produced a masterful round of 67 to reach nine under par, leaving a chasing pack that includes defending champion Matt Fitzpatrick scrambling to keep pace.Clark’s performance was all the more impressive given the challenging afternoon conditions, as swirling winds swept across the North Course and sent scores soaring for many of the game’s biggest names. Clark’s round was a study in controlled aggression.He mixed four birdies with a single bogey, leaning on a precise iron game and a putter that has been red-hot all week. The 29-year-old from Denver, who turned professional in 2017, has long been regarded as a talent capable of contending on the biggest stages, but he has often struggled to sustain momentum over four rounds.This week, however, he has looked every bit the part of a major champion. His driving accuracy and ability to scramble from the thick rough that guards LACC’s fairways have been particularly noteworthy.“I just tried to stay in the moment and not get ahead of myself,” Clark said after his round. “The wind picked up, but I felt like I handled it well.” The conditions proved far less kind to the pre-tournament favourites. World number one Scottie Scheffler, who came into the week as the betting favourite, struggled to a two-over 72 that left him at one under for the tournament, eight shots adrift of Clark.Scheffler’s usually reliable ball-striking abandoned him at key moments, and he was seen shaking his head in frustration after several missed fairways. Rory McIlroy, a four-time major champion, fared only marginally better.The Northern Irishman carded a 71 that included three bogeys and just two birdies, leaving him at two under and facing a steep uphill climb over the weekend. McIlroy’s putting, a persistent weakness in recent years, again let him down as he missed several makeable chances from inside 12 feet.England’s Matt Fitzpatrick, the defending champion, is the closest challenger after a gritty 68 that moved him to five under par. Fitzpatrick, who won his first major at Brookline last year, showed the kind of resilience that has become his trademark.He battled through a front nine that could have derailed his round, saving par from difficult spots, before finding his rhythm on the back nine with three birdies. “I’m in a good spot,” Fitzpatrick said.“Wyndham is playing great, but there’s a long way to go. The wind is going to be a factor all weekend, and that can change things quickly.” Also lurking at four under are Harris English and Tom Kim, both of whom have shown flashes of brilliance this season. The US Open is renowned for its brutal examination of every facet of a player’s game, and Los Angeles Country Club has lived up to that reputation.The course, hosting its first US Open, has been praised for its classic design and firm, fast conditions. But the wind that arrived on Friday afternoon added a layer of difficulty that caught many players off guard.The greens, already slick and undulating, became nearly impossible to hold from certain angles. Several players, including Scheffler and McIlroy, were forced to lay up on par fives that they would normally attack, a testament to the course’s ability to punish even the slightest misjudgment.As the tournament heads into the weekend, all eyes will be on Clark to see if he can handle the pressure of leading a major championship. History is not on his side: the last player to win a US Open after leading by four or more shots through 36 holes was Tiger Woods in 2002.But Clark has shown a newfound maturity this season, with top-10 finishes at the Phoenix Open and the Wells Fargo Championship. The chasing pack, meanwhile, will be hoping that the wind continues to blow and that the leader’s nerves begin to fray.For McIlroy and Scheffler, the task is monumental but not impossible. Both have the firepower to go low, but they will need near-perfect rounds and a dose of luck to catch a player who, for now, looks utterly in control.

#lead focus

#US Open

#Wyndham Clark

#golf

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