Golf

US Open 2023 Results – Wyndham Clark wins first major

June 19, 2023 3:56 am
US Open 2023 Results – Wyndham Clark wins first major
Photo by Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports/Sipa USA - Photo by Icon sport

Wyndham Clark put together an impressive even-par round of 70 (10-under for the tournament) on Sunday to hold off Rory McIlroy (9-under) and win the 2023 U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club for his first major championship.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler finished in solo third at 7-under with Australian Cameron Smith a stroke behind him in fourth. Rickie Fowler endured a rough day and slid down the leaderboard which resulted in a tie for fifth.

U.S. Open Final Leaderboard

RankPlayerTo par (Thru)
1Wyndham Clark-10 (F)
2Rory McIlroy-9 (F)
3Scottie Scheffler-7 (F)
4Cameron Smith-6 (F)
T-5Rickie Fowler-5 (F)
T-5Tommy Fleetwood-5 (F)
T-5Min Woo Lee-5 (F)

Key moments on Sunday

Relive the final round with a few memorable moments featured below.

Wyndham Clark displays nerves of steel, wins his first major

After posting rounds of 64, 67 and 69 through the first three days to get to 10-under par and share the lead entering Sunday, Clark’s even-par round was enough to break through for a victory in just his seventh major appearance.

Clark found himself in trouble multiple times on Sunday but managed to get up and down to save par and bogey on holes where he was expected to do much worse given the thick rough he found himself in.

The Denver, Colorado native shared after the tournament that the most important part of his day was the bogey save on the eighth hole. His second shot was virtually flawless, but it fell about a yard short of the target and landed deep in the barranca. On his third stroke, he had a terrible lie and posture and completely swung beneath the ball. Then he sent his ball over the green. He managed to save bogey with a superb chip to approximately three feet. It could’ve been a lot worse.

The clutch bogey preserved a one-shot lead over McIlroy, and he went on to two-putt the 72nd hole to preserve his win.

The 29-year-old now has two wins in his last four starts after winning the Wells Fargo Championship (PGA Tour elevated event) in May.

“I’ve dreamed about this moment for so long,” the Oregon product said after his win. Clark lost his mom at a young age and emotionally tributed her during the trophy presentation and added he wishes she could’ve been there. He went on to say he had envisioned himself winning a major and that the timing felt right.

For his efforts, Clark will take home the first-place prize of $3.6 million, the U.S. Open Trophy and Jack Nicklaus Medal.

U.S. Open final round leaderboard
Photo by Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports/Sipa USA – Photo by Icon Sport

Rory McIlroy comes up just short

The Northern Irishman will have to wait longer to win his first major since 2014. McIlroy hit green after green but couldn’t get birdie putts to fall similar to last year’s final round at the Open Championship.

The 34-year-old found himself on the 18th a stroke behind Clark and hit his approach on the green but left himself a lengthy birdie putt. He gave it a good stroke, but it barely missed the cup resulting in a par.

For his round, the four-time major winner recorded one birdie, one bogey and 16 pars.

Rickie Fowler takes a tumble

The co-leader, after 54 holes, had a chance to win his first major but posted seven bogeys compared to just two birdies on Sunday. Fowler ended up in a tie for fifth place at 5-under par with Tommy Fleetwood and Min Woo Lee. He finished five strokes behind Clark.

Tommy Fleetwood shoots the low round of the day

The Englishman posted a final round of 63 (7-under) to become the first person in history to post two 63s at U.S. Opens. His first 63 came during the final round of the 2018 edition at Shinnecock Hills. Fleetwood narrowly missed on the 18th from 3.5 feet for birdie, which would’ve given him a 62, the lowest single round ever (Fowler and Schauffele broke the record Thursday).

It was a second-consecutive top-five finish for Fleetwood after he finished in second (lost to Nick Taylor in a playoff) at last week’s RBC Canadian Open.

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