By Jim Bebbington
Wyndham Clark had just enough birdies in the bank to win his second U.S. Open title.
Colorado-native Wyndham Clark staked himself to a big lead in the 2026 U.S. Open after Thursday’s round and by Sunday morning he had a six-shot lead. Few other pros seemed able to get much beyond 1-under par, and while other players made runs toward him, Clark made it a tight race Sunday by shooting a 3-over par round in which he struggled to find fairways.
“I played some ugly golf the last two days but my putting and chipping kept me in it,” Clark said after the round.
What set Clark apart was his stellar putting in the clutch. He consistently sank long par putts throughout the weekend on Shinnecock Hills Golf Club greens that his peers missed.
On the final green he faced a long two-putt for victory, nearly the exact same scenario as he had faced on the 18th green at his breakthrough victory of the 2023 U.S. Open.
“It was very simliar to have a two-putt to win this tournament – surreal to be honest,” he said after the round.
He rolled his 50-foot putt to within six inches, and tapped in for victory.
Clark acknowledged his “terrible year” of 2025 made this win even sweeter. He said he “left this place in shambles” after a bad 2025 U.S. Open performance in which he also damaged his locker in frustration after his final round at Oakmont. He noted that the crowd was largely behind Scheffler throughout his round.
“Hopefully I can win you guys over eventually,” Clark told the crowd to cheers.
Clark played in the final group with world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who was hoping to complete his career Grand Slam with a win. But the predicted final-day battle between the two never materialized as Scheffler failed to make a run.
Instead Sam Burns, one of the best putters on the PGA Tour, put just enough pressure on Clark to be one-shot back as Clark approached the 18th green. Burns finished at 3-under par, one back.
After putting out on 18 Clark hugged his father, Randall, beside the green as he and his family celebrated.
Clark’s win also came wire-to-wire, one of the hardest accomplishments in the game. Playing late Thursday in the opening round Clark piled on two birdies and an eagle late in the afternoon to finish the day with a four-shot lead that he did not relinquish until Sunday’s round.
Clark joined Colorado’s Hale Irwin as one of just 24 men who have won multiple U.S. Open titles. Irwin won three times – 1974, 1979 and 1990.
For Clark, 32, he now has the prime of his golfing career to add to his legacy.
One other Colorado native, Yuma’s Steve Jones, won the U.S. Open, taking the title in 1996. Most recent double winners are Brooks Koepka (2017 and 2018) and Bryson Dechambeau (2020, 2024).
The win also gave Colorado golf a moment in the national television limelight. Clark started this season with a new swing coach, Pat Coyner, the director of instruction at Cherry Hills Country Club, and NBC interviewed Coyner on-air during Sunday’s final round.
Clark’s victory continues his remarkable come-back season. He had won once already – the CJ Cup Byron Nelson – and two weeks ago finished 3rd in the Memorial Tournament in Ohio. With Sunday’s win Clark took home $4.5 million, bringing his 2026 earnings to near $9 million.
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Colorado-native wins second U.S. Open in four years By Jim Bebbington Wyndham Clark had just enough birdies in the bank to win his second U.S. Open title. Colorado-native Wyndham Clark staked himself to a big lead in the 2026 U.S. Open after Thursday’s round and by Sunday morning he had a six-shot lead. Few other
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