Rory McIlroy's long wait for a fifth major continues as Wyndham Clark delivered a mostly composed performance to claim the 123rd US Open at Los Angeles Country Club by a single shot.
A first-time winner on the PGA Tour in May when he claimed the Wells Fargo Championship, Clark scrambled tremendously throughout two thirds of his round before cracks started to appear on the final difficult stretch.
Fortunately for Clark, McIlroy couldn’t apply any pressure - despite a fantastic recovery on the 17th for par – with his nine under total coming up a shot shy of forcing a play-off.
Scottie Scheffler made a late charge but his final-round 70 saw him finish on seven under.
For McIlroy, this near miss may hurt more than any of the others as his wait for a first major since the 2014 PGA Championship continues.
Sensational from tee to green until those final holes, his putter again deserted him when he needed it most, a series of birdie chances just slipping by the hole.
Superb par saves on the ninth and 11th kept Clark in the lead and his advantage was doubled when McIlroy’s run of 12 pars ended with a bogey on the 14th.
The moment @Wyndham_Clark became a major champion. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/TIlB87G3o3
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 19, 2023
McIlroy was perhaps fortunate to get a free drop when his approach became embedded in the face of a greenside bunker, but he was unable to get up and down for par.
Clark then struck a brilliant approach on to the green from 282 yards and two-putted for birdie from 20 feet to extend his lead to three.
Bogeys at 15 and 16 did ensure a shaky finish, but a par at the 17th left him with two putts to win at 18, and he cosied the first down to ensure the easiest of second putts to write his name on the trophy.
Third-round joint-leader Rickie Fowler endured a nightmare day in his quest to win a first major. His card contained seven bogeys in all as he finished five under.
Tommy Fleetwood came agonisingly close to making major championship history.
Fleetwood began the final round 12 shots off the lead, but carded a stunning closing 63 at Los Angeles Country Club to surge through the field.
And it could have been even better for the Ryder Cup star as he missed from five feet for birdie on the 18th.
That would have seen Fleetwood shoot the first 62 in the final round of a major, the record having been set by Branden Grace in the third round of the 2017 Open and equalled by Fowler and Xander Schauffele on Thursday.
Schauffele finished on three under par after a closing 72.
Additional reporting: PA
