Wyndham Clark outlasts Rory McIlroy to win 2023 U.S. Open title - Los Angeles Times
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Wyndham Clark defies the odds and outlasts Rory McIlroy to win U.S. Open

Wyndham Clark celebrates on the 18th green after winning the U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club.
Wyndham Clark celebrates on the 18th green after winning the U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club on Sunday.
(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
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The odds of Wyndham Clark winning the U.S. Open were as long as the shin-deep fescue surrounding the Los Angeles Country Club bunkers.

Clark had just one PGA Tour win under his belt, and this was only his seventh appearance in a major.

Hot on his heels was Rory McIlroy, a four-time major champion and crowd favorite whose only hiccup Sunday was a bogey on No.14.

As for Clark, he notched his first PGA Tour win last month at the Wells Fargo Championship. Surely, the newcomer’s knees would be knocking down the stretch.

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But Clark, who once almost gave up the game because of the heartache of losing his mother to cancer, steadied himself after a wobbly stretch on the back nine and parred the final two holes to hold on for the victory.

“I feel like I belong on this stage, and even two, three years ago when people didn’t know who I was, I felt like I could still play and compete against the best players in the world,” said Clark, 29, who shot an even-par 70 to beat McIlroy by one stroke. “I felt like I’ve shown that this year.”

Wyndham Clark celebrates after winning the U.S. Open on Sunday.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Wyndham Clark hugs his caddie after winning the U.S. Open on Sunday.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Clark sealed the victory with a one-foot putt, the 18th green ringed by wall-to-wall fans — including McIlroy backers who had warmed to him — and a sea of raised cellphones.

This was the most undeterred Clark since Griswold.

“Wyndham’s won twice now in the last six weeks, and they’re both unbelievable fields,” said Casey Martin, who coached Clark at Oregon for a season after he transferred from Oklahoma State. “So I’ve got to believe the win at Wells Fargo really allowed him to weather those storms. I think he was just so prepared for this.”

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Like Clark and McIlroy, No. 1-ranked Scottie Scheffler shot a 70 in the June gloom to finish in third place at seven under, three strokes behind Clark.

The nine-year drought continues for McIlroy, who won four majors early in his career but since is 0 for 33 despite finishing in the top 10 in 19 of those.

“I’m getting closer,” said McIlroy, who was similarly solid but not spectacular on Sunday at St. Andrews last summer, finishing third in the British Open. “The more I keep putting myself in these positions, sooner or later it’s going to happen for me.”

Whereas McIlroy was even-keeled, Clark was as up and down as the undulating North Course. After a birdie on the par-five 14th, for instance, he became the only player on the day to bogey the short par-three 15th.

McIlroy cut the lead to one shot with two to play, but both players parred the final two holes.

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Rickie Fowler, still in search of his first major win, began the day tied for the lead with Clark but slowly slid backward, shooting a 75 in the final round to finish in a three-way tie for fifth at five under.

Even before the Open, L.A. was a special place for Clark. His parents, Randall and Lise, were married at Riviera Country Club, and even though Sunday was Father’s Day, Clark’s mother was on his mind throughout the week.

Lise Clark died of breast cancer at 55. Wyndham was 19 at the time and unmoored by her passing. The pressure of golf didn’t help, and he seriously contemplated giving up the game.

Now, a decade later, her memory is a motivating force for him.

“I know my mom is proud of me,” he said after the victory. “She’s always been proud of me, regardless of how I’m doing or what I’m doing. I just wish she could be here and we could enjoy this.

“It’s been a pretty amazing week because my mom lived in L.A. for a few years, and I’ve had some people come up to me and show pictures of my mom when they knew her back in her 20s and early 30s when she was living here. That just happened this week, so it was kind of a special vibe all week being here in L.A.”

His college coach said Clark has learned how to regulate his emotions and it’s showing in his game.

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“He’s a hard-driver, athlete, achiever type, and that probably would get in his way because he wants it so bad and feels like he’s always underachieving,” Martin said. “It’s just been a process for him to mature and grow through that and learn to relax on the golf course and let it happen instead of feeling like he’s got to make it happen.”

Rickie Fowler hits from the 13th fairway during the final round of the U.S. Open.
Rickie Fowler hits from the 13th fairway during the final round of the U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club on Sunday.
(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)

Clark played the final round with Fowler, a fan favorite from Murrieta.

“Rickie had some of the most pressure being a California boy and everyone wanted him probably more than anyone,” said Clark, who played a little mind trick on himself when he heard those cheers for Fowler.

“My mental coach, Julie, told me, ‘Every time you hear someone chant “Rickie,” think of your goals and get cocky and go show them who you are.’ I did that. It was like 100-plus times today I reminded myself of the goals.

“Now maybe they’ll be chanting my name in the future.”

Complete coverage of the 2023 U.S. Open as Los Angeles Country Club, the first time L.A. has hosted a major tournament in more than 75 years.

June 18, 2023

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