Wyndham Clark took charge of the U.S. Open’s first round at Shinnecock Hills, crafting a spectacular late surge that put him four strokes ahead before play was suspended due to fading light. The 2023 champion reached six under par through 16 holes, using the calmer evening conditions to his advantage with an impressive sequence of birdie, birdie, and eagle. This performance allowed him to break away from the tightly packed leaderboard, despite several players still on the course when darkness halted the round.
The opening round experienced significant disruption as dense morning fog caused a delay exceeding two hours, preventing many competitors from completing their rounds. Among those who did finish, Sam Stevens emerged as the leader, completing his round at two under par. Meanwhile, Clark’s exceptional finish placed him in a dominant position early in the tournament, setting him up well for the continuation of play.
Rory McIlroy remained in the mix with a solid one-under 69 after briefly holding the outright lead. Late bogeys, however, dropped him back slightly, though he remains within striking distance as the tournament progresses into the second round. McIlroy, the reigning Masters champion, continues to be a strong contender in the event.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler faced a challenging day, managing to post a two-over 72. Despite an inconsistent start, Scheffler recovered to stay within reach of the leading pack. Tournament officials took the unusual step of watering the greens to mitigate the impact of strong winds forecasted for the upcoming days, aiming to maintain fair conditions for all players.
As many participants still need to complete their opening rounds, Clark is set to resume play on Friday in a promising position, as he aims for his second U.S. Open title. The weather conditions and interruptions have added an element of unpredictability to the tournament, but the field remains competitive with several top players poised to challenge Clark’s early lead.