As the final round of the US Open began, the stars were out to shine. Wyndham Clark and Rickie Fowler were the final pairing, with Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cameron Smith trying to chase them down. Despite the field of some of the top players from both the #PGA and #LIVTour, Wyndham Clark was able to hold off the field and shoot an even par to win the #USOpen at -10.
It was a real "feel good" story to watch Clark take home his first major championship, and second career PGA tour win, his first being the 2022/2023 Wells Fargo Championship. Wyndham Clark always carried the message from his late mother to “play big." Nothing was bigger than Sunday when he held off Rory McIlroy with one clutch shot after another to become a US Open champion.
The final act was two putts from 60 feet away on the 18th hole at Los Angeles Country Club, and the 29-year-old Clark pumped his fist when it settled a foot away. He tapped that in for an even-par 70 and a one-shot victory over McIlroy and so many other stars. For McIlroy, it was more major disappointment. He opened with a birdie and didn't make another one the rest of the day. He hung around when Clark began to falter, though McIlroy missed fairways and couldn't buy a putt, similar to the British Open last summer at St. Andrews. He closed with a 70.
Scottie Scheffler, the No. 1 player in the world, couldn't catch him. Neither could British Open champion Cameron Smith or Rickie Fowler, who played in the final group for the third time in a major and watched an exquisite performance by Clark, playing for the third time on the weekend in a major.
As for Rickie Fowler, sigh. What could've been, but I have said it numerous times this year, his game is trending in the right direction. Whether he has the "clutch gene" it certainly doesn't seem that way, but you have to tip your cap to his game right now. Not only has he been playing significantly better, the way he speaks to the media and how he stays after his Saturday round in the dark to sign autographs, shows the kind of character he has. I would've loved to see him final get it done in a major championship, but unfortunately his Sunday round was less than stellar. @RickieFowler if you're reading this, it could be much worse, Rory McIlroy forgot how to close out Sunday golf tournaments.
At the 2022 U.S. Open, Matt Fitzpatrick claimed not only his first major but also $3.15 million. This year's champion, Wyndham Clark, will receive a winner's check of $3.6 million in his bank account (well, minus taxes). That's the same amount given to winners of full-field designated events on the PGA Tour schedule. Scottie Scheffler's Players Championship victory still holds the honors of the highest payday of the year as he collected $4.5 million from a $25 million purse at TPC Sawgrass.
Also.....Cameron Smith to win the Open Championship +2000. Book it.