If anyone can catch Wyndham Clark at the 2026 US Open, it’s Scottie Scheffler
SOUTHAMPTON, NY — The roar could possibly be heard from properly above the 14th inexperienced, reverberating by the fairway and all the method as much as the iconic Shinnecock Hills clubhouse the place the sharp sound gave everybody pause. It was the loudest of the day — the loudest of the week maybe — and it might solely imply one factor.
Scottie Scheffler had lastly made his presence recognized in the US Open.
What had made the New York crowd bellow late Saturday afternoon was what had made Scheffler himself let loose his personal roar. A chip-in birdie from 65 ft and abruptly Scheffler could possibly be seen displaying the sort of fiery emotion he has reserved for profitable main championships. A vicious fist pump, a yell and a sudden bounce in his step that had been lacking.
“We’ve been battling for three days now,” Scheffler stated of that second. “So to steal a shot there at least is a pretty good feeling.”
He adopted up the excessive of 14 with one other birdie on 15 — a 12-foot putt that went in with the sort of confidence Scheffler’s stroke has, at occasions, lacked. Scheffler fist-pumped once more. A faucet-in birdie on 16 after hitting a sky-high 3-wood to fifteen ft made it three in a row and abruptly, on a day the place seemingly each participant took a step again, a day the place Shinnecock lastly confirmed his true colours, Scheffler made his inevitable cost and was one among solely two gamers who have been capable of card a spherical beneath par.
“I’d rather be leading,” Scheffler stated. “I could be 7 shots back and I could be 3 shots back. I don’t know what it’s going to be.”
As Scheffler hit the placing inexperienced following his spherical, Wyndham Clark made his personal transfer, grinding for tough pars on the again 9 till he despatched a 3-wood sky excessive into the Long Island air on 16 in the identical method that Scheffler had executed. Clark, nevertheless, made the quick eagle putt and by day’s finish held a historic six-shot lead heading into the ultimate spherical Sunday.
“It’s extremely challenging out there,” Scheffler stated. “I’ll need a really nice round tomorrow if I’m going to try and catch Wyndham.”
Clark won’t be caught simply, not simply due to his seemingly insurmountable lead but additionally as a result of he has been right here earlier than, with a slimmer lead even, and completed the job. In 2023, he held Scheffler off, amongst others, at Los Angeles Country Club after holding a share of the 54-hole lead. There is an expertise and a consolation there that wasn’t current when he received his first main.
“I’m definitely a lot more confident and believe I can do it. I’d say in ’23 there was still doubts. Not necessarily doubts, but I hadn’t done it, so there was a lot of unknown,” Clark stated. “Now that I have done it, I know I can do it, and I can do it again.”
Yet there is no mistaking what Scheffler’s presence represents on the leaderboard and in the ultimate group. He looms, not fairly like Tiger Woods did in his heyday, however with the strongest pressure we’ve got seen since him. If there’s anyone who can erase a six-shot lead, who can do what appeared unattainable in the late Southampton afternoon as Clark by no means misplaced his momentum, it’s Scheffler.
He shouldn’t be the just one hoping to trace Clark down — three different gamers are 1-under whereas 4 extra stand at even par — however Scheffler is the just one who may need the firepower to take action. It will assist too, that as Clark makes an attempt to carry on to one among the greatest leads we have seen in current main championship historical past, Scheffler shall be proper there alongside him, including stress to proximity.
“Scottie is the best player in the world, and he’s going to play probably really good. He always does, but it’s nice to have a six-shot lead on him,” Clark stated.
All yr, the No. 1 participant in the world has been simmering as his recreation has not fairly failed him however has not fairly been capable of get him again in the profitable circle since his first occasion of the season in Palm Springs. Scheffler has, by gritted tooth, preached endurance and pushed again in opposition to the narrative that there is one thing flawed together with his recreation. His finishes, regardless of zero wins, have featured seven in the prime 10 and haven’t as soon as dipped beneath a tie for twenty fourth. Even with out a win, Scheffler has been capable of present proof and testomony of his unbelievable flooring.
“I feel like this year I’ve been what I would describe as close,” Scheffler stated earlier this week. “The margins are just so small I think in this game.”
On Saturday, it felt like the margins have been as small as they’d been all week at Shinnecock. The ultimate spherical will seemingly give us the hardest version of this course we’ve got seen this week when it comes to setup. The wind shall be down, however there’s an expectation that the USGA will lastly permit the venue to play as agency and tough because it has in the previous. And if Scheffler is searching for hope in a comeback, the actuality is that nobody thrives when it’s tough greater than he does. His recreation is constructed to face and separate, however now it’s him who has to chase.
“It’s all in Wyndham’s hands, really. If he plays a really solid round of golf tomorrow, if he shoots even par or 1-over or 2-over, he’s going to win the golf tournament,” Xander Schauffelewho sits at 1-under, stated.
On Sunday, Scheffler will flip a web page that’s heavy with that means. He turns 30 years outdated and can step on the first tee with an opportunity to win the profession Grand Slam. It is outstanding that this second has already arrived, created in the span of simply 4 years by Scheffler’s outstanding run atop the sport.
“I think it’s appropriate to understand what’s at stake. I’ve worked really hard for a long time to have a chance to win golf tournaments and to win major championships,” Scheffler stated. “I think understanding the moment and giving it your best shot I think is all part of the process. We want to be in these positions. This is why we practice and play, to have the opportunity to win golf tournaments, and that’s what tomorrow is.”
The mountain Scheffler has to climb Sunday is steeper than it ever has been. Yet if anyone can accomplish what seems to be a Herculean process, it’s him. Should he obtain it, it will not simply be an unprecedented comeback; it will likely be historic.
