SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — Wyndham Clark captured the 126th U.S. Open Championship at Shinnecock Hills on Sunday, holding off a late charge from Sam Burns to secure a one-shot victory and claim his second U.S. Open title in four years.
Clark, who entered the final round with a six-shot lead, finished at 4-under-par for the tournament despite carding a 3-over 73 on Sunday. Burns closed with a strong final-round performance but finished one stroke behind at 3-under. Tom Kim placed third at 1-under, while world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler finished in a tie for fourth after falling short in his bid to complete the career Grand Slam.
The victory marked Clark’s second major championship, following his U.S. Open triumph at Los Angeles Country Club in 2023. According to the United States Golf Association and tournament broadcasters, Clark led the field from the opening round through the final putt, becoming the first wire-to-wire U.S. Open winner since 2014.
Clark built his advantage with an opening-round 64 and maintained control through the first three days of competition on the demanding Long Island course. However, the final round proved far more difficult as windy conditions and mounting pressure reduced his lead to a single stroke on several occasions. Burns mounted a sustained challenge, while Scheffler remained within striking distance for much of the afternoon.
On the 18th hole, Clark secured the championship with a two-putt par after navigating one of the most closely contested finishes of the season. “It’s wire-to-wire for Wyndham, and a second U.S. Open championship,” NBC commentator Dan Hicks said during the tournament broadcast as Clark completed the victory.
The championship was held at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, one of the most historic venues in American golf and a frequent host of the U.S. Open. The course again lived up to its reputation as one of the sport’s most challenging tests, with only a handful of players finishing under par for the week.
Clark’s win came before a large Father’s Day crowd and concluded a week in which he remained atop the leaderboard throughout all four rounds. Tournament organizers said the 2026 championship featured a record purse of $22.5 million, with Clark earning $4.5 million for the victory.
Following the presentation ceremony on Sunday evening, Clark acknowledged the challenge posed by Shinnecock Hills and the pressure of protecting a substantial lead. “It’s so hard to play at that golf course,” he said in remarks reported by NBC Sports. “It just requires so much mental fortitude.”
As of Tuesday, Clark remained among the leading contenders on the PGA Tour heading into this week’s Travelers Championship, while attention in men’s golf shifted to the next events on the summer schedule.
