Wyndham Clark won the 2026 U.S. Open by one shot at Shinnecock Hills on Sunday, securing his second career major title. The 32-year-old American survived a late wobble down the stretch, but did just enough to finish ahead of the chasing pack in a tense final round.
Clark's victory came despite a shaky back nine that saw several contenders make runs. Scottie Scheffler was seen missing short putts during practice, which didn't bode well for his chances. Meanwhile, Justin Rose surged up the leaderboard with three consecutive birdies on 11, 12, and 13, rising to +1 and putting a top-ten finish within reach for the 2013 champion. Defending champion JJ Spaun missed the cut, while last year's runner-up Robert MacIntyre finished at +7 after a level-par 70.
The scoring variance remained lower than in prior U.S. Opens at Shinnecock Hills, a trend that favored Clark's six-shot lead entering the day according to analysts. Finding fairways proved less critical on Sunday, as many players scored over par despite hitting fairways.
Clark celebrated the victory by kissing his girlfriend and hugging his dad on Father's Day, a poignant moment that echoed the tournament's subplots. Earlier in the day, 17-year-old amateur Miles Russell surprised his father, Joe, by having him caddie the final hole as a Father's Day gift. Russell, who had Charlie Woods on the bag during qualifying, made his U.S. Open debut a family affair.
The win solidifies Clark's place among the game's elite, though questions remain about whether he can maintain this form against a resurgent field that includes Scheffler and a wave of young talent like Russell.