Wyndham Clark overcomes hostile New York crowd to win U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills

American Wyndham Clark overcame a hostile crowd and the brilliance of Sam Burns to win the U.S. Open on a chaotic final day. 

The 32-year-old entered the final round at Shinnecock Hills with a commanding six-shot lead but saw his advantage reduced to one at the seventh. 

Clark, who won the U.S. Open in Los Angeles in 2023, also had to contend with a hostile New York crowd that seemed to cheer every miss and poor shot.  

Some fans were ejected by police after calling for Clark's golf ball to "get in the bunker" and reminding him of his outburst of anger at Oakmont last year.

It resurrected memories of last year's Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black where the European team were subjected to a barrage of verbal abuse.

But Clark held his nerve, two-putting from 52 feet for par on the 18th to sign for a three-over 73 and win by one stroke from Burns.

Clark shouted “boom” after the winning putt dropped and was visibly emotional when he embraced his dad on Father’s Day, unaware that he was in the crowd.

"That's the toughest round you've ever played," hot mics picked up his father saying. 

"New York didn't really like me," Clark said after the trophy presentation. "I love you guys, but you know, I get it

"You know, some of it's self-deserved. I did some unfortunate things last year that I really regret, and I've been sorry multiple times, and I'm still sorry.

"So hopefully I can win you guys over eventually, but I get it. They're rooting for Scottie. Grand slams only happen a few times, so he's going to get it. 

"I mean, he's the best player in the world, but today is my day."

He added: "I played some ugly golf the last two days, but my putter and short game kind of kept me in it. 

"To make all the putts I did with my Ping putter that I love so much has been amazing.

"But honestly, it comes down to just believing that good things are going to happen and that you're going to make the putt. 

"And fortunately, the ones that I needed to make, I did."

Clark's biggest challenge was expected to be the world number one, Scottie Scheffler, but the 30-year-old could only manage a one-over 71.

Instead, Burns emerged as the most likely candidate to win the third men's major of the year.

Burns was in contention heading into the back nine at the 2025 U.S. Open.

He slipped down the leaderboard with a double bogey on the 15th after his ball ended up in a questionable lie involving wet ground.

Burns was denied relief for casual water and it became one of the biggest talking points. 

On Sunday, Burns found four birdies on the front nine to apply the pressure to Clark. 

A 17-foot birdie putt dropped on the 16th and it looked as though he was going to find another one at the par-three 17th. 

But one of the best players on the greens on the PGA Tour hit a terrible putt from nine feet and couldn't believe it when a 17-foot birdie attempt at the last grazed the edge. 

Tom Kim, J.T. Poston, Keith Mitchell, Joaquin Niemann, Tyrell Hatton, Gary Woodland and Sam Stevens rounded out the top 10.

No grand slam for Scottie Scheffler

Scheffler, who was serenaded with a birthday song on the first tee, began the final round four strokes adrift of Clark. 

He got off to the worst possible start, dropping a shot right out of the gate. 

The 29-year-old matched Clark's birdie at the fifth but dropped a shot at the par-three seventh after finding the greenside trap with his tee shot. 

Scheffler made birdie on the short par-four 10th but again it was matched by Clark.  

A damaging bogey saw at the 13th saw him slip further back and, when Clark found an unlikely four at the 16th it ended any hope he had of completing the career grand slam on the first attempt. 

Shinnecock won the battle, says Rory McIlroy

Masters champion Rory McIlroy carded a final round 73. 

His challenge for a first US Open title in 15 years fell away during the third round. 

The 37-year-old was in contention after moving to two-under par for the championship on Saturday afternoon. 

But a damaging back nine that included five bogeys left him with far too much to do. 

"I think it [Shinnecock Hills] won the battle over me at this point," he told reporters. "Looking back on the entire week, I will rue the back nine yesterday.

"I got myself to two under par after nine yesterday and the wheels came off and I played a really bad back nine and shot myself out of the tournament, so was really disappointed coming away from the course last night.

"You try to come out here today positive and muster up the energy to put a good one in there and then [after] a couple of bogies on the front nine I was trying to race my way to the 18th green."

McIlroy will now turn his attentions to events back in the United Kingdom. 

He has decided to skip next week's Travelers Championship on the PGA Tour and will return home to play some links golf. 

He is scheduled to play the Genesis Scottish Open next month, a week before The Open at Royal Birkdale. 

"It's my favourite time of the year to go back home and play the Open and get to spend a bit of time back there," he added.

"This was not too dissimilar to an Open Championship in how the golf course played over the weekend, but some links golf over the next couple of weeks will be nice."