Wyndham Clark Seizes Lead at US Open Amid Surprising Conditions
Wyndham Clark, the former champion, took full advantage of a two-hour fog delay, propelling him to the top of the US Open first-round leaderboard with a score of six under. The fog allowed for relatively calm conditions later in the day, making it easier for players to score despite organizers' concerns about wind gusts reaching up to 35mph. Late starters expected to face challenging conditions found the opposite, with Clark capitalizing on the evening sunshine. He started on the back nine, achieving three birdies before the turn. Although he dropped a shot at the second hole, he rebounded with two birdies and an eagle in the next three holes, finishing four shots clear when play was suspended due to bad light. Clark expressed gratitude for the fog delay, stating, "That two-hour fog delay was very helpful, and it was really nice it (the wind) laid down so it definitely helped those last six, seven holes we played." His recent form includes a win and two other top-12 finishes in his last three tournaments. The chasing pack includes four former champions: Jon Rahm, Matt Fitzpatrick, Gary Woodland, and a rejuvenated Dustin Johnson, all scheduled to return Friday morning to complete their rounds. Only three lesser-known players, Sam Stevens, Max McGreevy, and amateur Ryder Cowan, managed to finish with rounds of 68. Rory McIlroy, who finished one under, noted that achieving under par was commendable given the day's conditions. He highlighted his performance with a remarkable 396-yard drive, leading to his first US Open eagle since 2017. Due to the unfinished rounds, second-round tee times have been adjusted, allowing 50 players to complete their first rounds on Friday.
Source: The Independent Sport - 2026-06-19