Wyndham Clark Holds Four-Stroke Lead at Shinnecock After 36 Holes Wyndham Clark entered the final two rounds of the 126th U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club with a commanding four-stroke advantage, setting a new 36-hole record for the tournament at 7 under par. The 28-year-old American, who previously won the 2023 U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club, now faces the challenge of maintaining his momentum as the course is expected to become significantly more difficult over the weekend. With the U.S. Open’s reputation for dramatic comebacks and unpredictable conditions, Clark’s lead, while substantial, is not guaranteed to hold. Clark’s performance in the first two rounds was marked by a mix of brilliance and inconsistency. He opened with a 6-under 64, capitalizing on the relatively soft conditions, but followed with a 1-under 69. While his overall score of 13 under par was the lowest among the leaders, his statistical performance in the second round was less impressive. He gained nearly four strokes on the greens in the first round but only about half that in the second, and his approach shots, which had been a key strength, saw a slight decline. Despite this, Clark remains confident in his ability to close out the tournament. The field behind him includes several major champions and top-ranked players who could challenge his lead. Rory McIlroy, who finished seven strokes back after a 1-over 71 in the second round, remains optimistic about his chances. “If there’s a course where you feel like you still have a chance if you’re seven back going into the weekend like I am, it’s definitely this one,” McIlroy said. Other contenders include Xander Schauffele (3 under), Collin Morikawa (2 under), and Justin Thomas (1 under), all of whom are within striking distance.#rory_mcilroy #xander_schauffele #wyndham_clark #us_open #shinnecock_hills_golf_club
