A storming performance from Wyndham Clark has put him firmly in the driving seat as the US Open hurtles towards its thrilling finale. With a commanding six-stroke lead heading into the final round at Shinnecock Hills, Clark's dominance on the course is starting to look unassailable. A third-round 70, built on razor-sharp short-game play and a crucial eagle on the 16th hole, has sent shockwaves through the field.
The chasing pack, all vying for silverware, includes a star-studded lineup of world number one Scottie Scheffler, Sahith Theegala, Tom Kim, and Sam Stevens – all tied for second place at -1. Other notable players, including Emiliano Grillo, Keith Mitchell, Sam Burns, and Xander Schauffele, are keeping their noses clean with even-par scores. England's Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Fitzpatrick, meanwhile, are fighting to stay in contention after a tough third round left them tied with Collin Morikawa at +1.
The notoriously treacherous Shinnecock Hills course has been a nightmare for many competitors throughout the tournament – only two players managed to finish under par yesterday: Emiliano Grillo with a 67 and Scottie Scheffler with a 69. But as the final round gets underway, conditions seem slightly more forgiving, with reduced wind blowing through the greens. So far, this has led to more sub-70 rounds in the early stages of play compared to the entire third round – suggesting that opportunities for a strong finish are very much alive.
History is firmly on Clark's side as he bids to lift the US Open trophy. Nobody has ever relinquished a six-stroke lead after 54 holes at this iconic tournament. The largest lead ever lost at this stage was five strokes in 1919 – and, while Arnold Palmer famously came from seven strokes behind to win in 1960 and Johnny Miller from six strokes back in 1973, these instances involved chasing players overcoming deficits, not losing a lead of this magnitude.
So can Clark maintain his focus and form under the intense pressure of leading at the US Open? The presence of top-tier talent like Scottie Scheffler – playing alongside Clark in the final pairing – adds an element of intrigue. With a career Grand Slam potentially within reach, Scheffler possesses the calibre to challenge even the strongest of leads. And let's not forget, the US Golf Association (USGA) is notorious for setting up demanding conditions at the US Open – so Clark will need to dig deep and produce something special to secure victory.