LOS ANGELES ― Wyndham Clark crashed the get together on the U.S. Open on Sunday, holding off Rory McIlroy and outclassing Rickie Fowler whereas profitable his first main championship.
As a substitute of one in every of golf’s large names celebrating on the 18th inexperienced amongst roaring followers, it was the relative no-name Clark having fun with the second at Los Angeles Nation Membership.
Clark, 29, completed the match at 10-under, one stroke forward of McIlroy and 5 strokes forward of Fowler. He held on regardless of making bogey at holes No. 15 and No. 16 and watching a a three-stroke lead over McIlroy get whittled to at least one shot.
He held on for victory due to pars at No. 17 and No. 18 for an even-par 70 within the last spherical, throughout which he understood many spectators have been rooting for Fowler, a Southern California native.
“Clearly I put my very own strain on myself, however yeah, I assume it is good being the underdog,” Clark stated after the ultimate spherical. “It was nice strolling by listening to lots of people chant for Rickie’s identify as a result of it sort of fueled the hearth beneath me that I might do it.”
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Clark, who turned professional in 2017, had beforehand competed in six main championships and completed no higher than tied for seventy fifth. He received his first PGA Tour occasion in Could on the Wells Fargo Championship.
Rickie Fowler falls off tempo
Fowler, in search of his first main championship, began the day tied for the lead with Clark at 10-under. However he made three bogeys over the primary seven holes and by no means bought on monitor.
“I simply did not have it immediately,” Fowler stated. “Iron play was very beneath common and did not make something. That is a giant factor in majors, particularly on a Sunday. Making putts and sort of retaining it pretty stress-free.”
Rory McIlroy can’t finish main drought
McIlroy, attempting to finish his virtually nine-year drought since profitable his final main championship, stalked Clark for a lot of the day couldn’t catch him with regular golf. He made one birdie and one bogey throughout his spherical of even-70.
“I clearly by no means hand over.,” McIlroy stated. “And I am getting nearer. The extra I maintain placing myself in these positions, ultimately it’ll occur for me.”
Who’s Wyndham Clark?
With the victory, Clark earned $3.6 million and a few much-deserved identify recognition.
Clark, who grew up in Colorado, is the son of a former skilled tennis participant. His mom died of breast most cancers in 2013 when he was attending Oklahoma State, and over time he has talked about how she needed him to play for an even bigger objective and one thing higher than himself.
“She’d be crying tears of pleasure,” Clark stated when requested what his mother would say after he received. “… She referred to as me ‘Winner’ after I was little, so she would simply say, ‘I like you, Winner.'”
