Wyndham Clark has always received the message to “play big” from his late mother. Nothing was more important than Sunday when he held off Rory McIlroy with one kill after another to win the US Open.
The final act consisted of two putts from 60 feet away on the 18e hole at the Los Angeles Country Club, and Clark, 29, clenched his fist as the putt leveled off a foot away. He tapped it to complete a one-stroke victory over McIlroy and so many other great players.
“I felt like my mom was watching over me today,” Clark said after lifting the silver trophy. I’ve worked so hard and dreamed of this moment for so long. I felt it was my time. »
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler couldn’t catch up. No more than Cameron Smith or Rickie Fowler.
Clark let his emotions run wild at the end, staring up at the blue sky in tears and covering his face with his cap as he sobbed on the green.
He considered giving up golf when he had to deal ten years ago with the death of his mother, Lise, from breast cancer. Today, he has two wins in six weeks, and more big moments await him.
For McIlroy, the disappointment was even greater. He started with a birdie and didn’t do any more for the rest of the day. He hung on when Clark started to falter, but McIlroy got into trouble and missed a few putts, like last summer’s British Open in St. Andrews. He finished the day with a card of 70.
“I felt like my luck was gone,” McIlroy said.
“I think I’ll regret the putting chances I missed,” McIlroy added. I struggled to approach the ball throughout the day. That’s it and that shot at 14e hole, which was a little short, these are the things that I will regret today. »
Canadians Mackenzie Hughes, Adam Hadwin and Adam Svensson finished in the 49th respectivelye59e and 60e place.