Wyndham Clark captured the 2026 U.S. Open on June 21 at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, surviving a late charge from Sam Burns to win by one stroke. Clark finished the championship at four under par, with Burns one shot back at three under. The victory gave Clark a second U.S. Open title and a second major championship.
When Sunday began, the outcome appeared nearly settled. Clark carried a six-shot advantage into the final round after three days of steady, controlled golf and had largely avoided the mistakes that tripped up much of the field at Shinnecock. Burns, however, quickly changed the tone of the afternoon by making a series of birdies and steadily chipping away at the lead. What had looked like a routine march to the trophy became one of the more compelling finishes of the year as the galleries sensed the championship was still alive.
Burns posted a final-round 67, the lowest score among the contenders and one of the best rounds of the day. As his charge gathered momentum, Clark’s once-comfortable lead became increasingly fragile. Clark was not unraveling, but a few bogeys allowed Burns to keep applying pressure and briefly raised the possibility of a playoff.
A pivotal moment came at the par-5 16th. Clark made birdie there, creating a cushion that soon proved valuable. He bogeyed the 17th hole, trimming his lead to a single stroke and setting up a tense finish at the 18th. What had once looked like a coronation suddenly required one final test of nerve, but Clark successfully navigated the closing hole and secured another U.S. Open crown.
The victory elevated him into an exclusive group of multiple U.S. Open champions. He also joined a short list of players who led the tournament from beginning to end, becoming just the ninth golfer to win the championship without surrendering the lead at any point during the week. The last player to accomplish that feat was Martin Kaymer in 2014.
Clark’s week began with an opening-round 64 despite fog delays and difficult scoring conditions that frustrated much of the field. From there, he remained in control, gradually building his advantage over the next two rounds. By Sunday morning, many believed the tournament was essentially over, but Burns had different plans.
The runner-up finish became one of the week’s notable storylines because his season had been inconsistent before arriving on Long Island. He had missed the cut in three of his first four starts of the year but found his form at Shinnecock. Throughout the week, Burns stayed patient and steadily kept himself within striking distance. A birdie at the 16th helped maintain the pressure, and Clark’s bogey at the next hole reduced the margin to one shot. Burns could not find another birdie over the closing stretch and finished alone in second, the best major result of his career.
Tom Kim finished by himself in third place at one under par and was one of only three players to complete the tournament under par. Scottie Scheffler, J.T. Poston and Keith Mitchell shared fourth at even par. Mitchell’s performance was unusual in its consistency, as he reportedly became the first player in U.S. Open history to shoot exactly even par in all four rounds.
The amateur competition also produced an impressive showing. Jackson Koivun and Ryder Cowan shared low amateur honors after tying for 23rd place, finishing ahead of numerous established professionals.
The championship featured record prize money as well. The purse reached $22.5 million, the largest in U.S. Open history. Clark earned $4.5 million for the victory, Burns collected $2.43 million for second place, and Kim received more than $1.5 million for his third-place finish.
The atmosphere during the final round became a story of its own. Some spectators heckled Clark and many appeared to be rooting for a dramatic comeback as the lead narrowed. Clark later said he appreciated the energy and intensity that the crowd brought to the championship.
The victory also completed a remarkable turnaround. Earlier in the season, Clark had fallen to 75th in the world rankings. Strong performances, including a victory at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson and a third-place finish at the Memorial Tournament, suggested his game was returning. By the end of the week at Shinnecock Hills, he had added another major championship to his résumé and became a two-time U.S. Open winner.
This image is the property of The New Dispatch LLC and is not licenseable for external use without explicit written permission.
