Sign up every week for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the hottest topics in sports and join the conversation by tweeting us at @golf_com. This week, we discuss Wyndham Clark’s US Open win, the week at Shinnecock and more.
Wyndham Clarke won the 126th US Opentaking a commanding six-stroke lead into the final round and eventually beating Sam Burns by one stroke at Shinnecock Hills. How did Wyndham get off the field so easily the first three days and then carry on, even when it looked bleak, on Sunday?
Josh Sens, senior writer (@joshsens): Clark’s pitching was lethal all week. But in those opening rounds, he himself said that the driver was the key, that when the big club goes well, it’s hard to beat. It probably helped that Shinnecock, like Los Angeles CC before it, was set up with wide fairways. Clark found a lot of short grass in those opening rounds. And then, when his tee-to-green game got sloppy in the closing rounds, his putter caught fire.
Zephyr Melton, Associate Game Improvement Editor (@zephyrmelton): He had a hot pitcher, got some lucky breaks when he hit it the wrong way, and hit some seriously impressive shots when things got tight. Winning wire-to-wire is always impressive, but doing it in US Open conditions at Shinnecock is on another level.
Josh Schrock, news editor (@schrock_and_awe): He took advantage of the good end of the wind draw on Thursday and did the same late on Saturday when it died down. He built his bullet that way and then relied on a ridiculous clutch shooter to bail him out when needed. To win a US Open, especially wire-to-wire at Shinnecock, you’ll need everything working in your favor; which involves making a number of par par saves and bogeys. Wyndham did enough to keep the train on the tracks Sunday and get him home.
Because of some unpleasant headlines of the past — a rules controversy, club-throwing incident and damage to Oakmont’s locker — Clark has had to work to reshape his image. Although some argue that many golfers have a temper. Do you think the criticism of Clark is fair? And will this help bring him back?
Meaning: It’s one thing to have a temper. It’s another thing to litter someone else’s property. Clark earned his reputation. He acted like a minor on more than one occasion. But this week, he said and did all the right things, and he was tough as they all came out when it mattered. Sports fans love that, and I’m sure Clark won some admirers along the way. Who knows if he has actually changed? But since when did the American public ever demand that its celebrities/athletes actually be the people they appear to be?
Melts: The criticism behind the closet door is certainly fair, especially given the lack of accountability and passive apologies. But in the world of sports, winning cures all, and adding another trophy to his resume won’t hurt.
Schrock: How do we define the right? Sports fans and sports fans, in general, are not rational or fair. Golf has lacked villains since most of them left for LIV, and if Clark can somehow fill that void, then that’s good for the sport. It wasn’t just about him smashing a locker or almost hitting a volunteer with a driver at the PGA or crushing the grass behind the ball at the API. That’s all. The fans went overboard cheering him on Sunday. But fans don’t like runaway winners, for the most part. They either want drama or a massive win from a superstar. Add in Clark’s transgressions and you’ve got a guy who isn’t exactly a fan favorite and a New York mob that will try and wreck a train into existence. Will a back-to-back win at Shinnecock help change that? Does it really matter? Maybe not.
Scottie Scheffler, who turned 30 on Sunday, came up short his first career Grand Slam attempt. What gives you optimism that he won’t have to wait long to complete the slam, and what gives you pause?
Meaning: The only thing that gives me pause is that degrees are very hard to earn. Beyond that, nothing. He is the best player in the world. He is healthy. And unlike some other generational talents, he doesn’t seem inclined to sabotage himself on or off the court. If it’s not next year, it will be soon enough.
Melts: He has the highest floor of any player in the game, and even when he has his C+ game (as he did this week), he holds his own. It’s only a matter of time before he takes one down.
Schrock: He is always at the top of the leaderboard. He hasn’t had his A-game all year and is always in the mix on Sunday. As long as he continues to have the highest floor in golf, he will have more chances to do so. But while we can all sit here and say that Scheffler should have a much better chance of winning the career Grand Slam, sometimes things aren’t so neat. We don’t know what the future holds, where his game will be each time this tournament comes around, whether or not he’ll be on the bad side of a draw here or an unlucky bounce there. These opportunities don’t actually happen all the time. It felt like Sunday was a huge missed opportunity.
Joaquin Niemann received a two stroke penalty for swinging a golf club during his first round at Shinnecock Hills. No video has been released, although The Athletic reported that Niemann was angry that he didn’t get rid of the fire ants after hitting two balls out of bounds, hitting a flag used to mark his ball and some nearby sand before throwing his club about 50 yards. The punishment comes under a new code of conduct policy to control such things. But without any video, do you think the penalty was too severe? Why not just a warning?
Meaning: Let’s not fall into the Instagram-era trap of thinking that if it wasn’t caught on video, it didn’t happen. Clearly there were witnesses and Niemann did not deny what he did. If anything, he should be glad the rules didn’t require him to leave the tournament.
Melts: The act must have been particularly severe to warrant a penalty without prior warnings. Unfortunately, without any video evidence, we’ll never know exactly what happened.
Schrock: I don’t mind the penalty as much as I do the arbitrariness in which it is given. Niemann did not deny any of the reported parts of the incident. On Sunday, he joked that it was a pretty good shot, while also saying he felt the USGA was being deliberately hard on him. Frustration happens, but there has to be a line. The problem is that we don’t have a clear idea of ​​where that line is and what constitutes crossing it. Jon Rahm hit his driver in the fairway with no penalty. Niemann threw his stick away from the people and took two hits. I think the way punishments are handed down and the lack of transparency as to why they are or aren’t handed down is a bigger issue than Niemann’s individual incident.
What was your most memorable moment from the 126th US Open?
Meaning: As hard as it is to play Shinnecock, it can be even harder to set up. Much agony and effort went into getting this right, both in maintenance practices and in public communications about the conditions. No one wanted the course to become history. But to some extent, it was done anyway. To the point that I overheard a superintendent say that if it takes that much sweat and stress to get the course right, it might not be a suitable modern US Open venue.
Melts: Even when Shinnecock is “easy”, it’s still very difficult. With all the complaints we saw on social media, you’d think the winning score was 30 under! Despite being available, only three players finished the week in the red. What proof that place presents.
Schrock: I’m going off the wall here. With Wyndham putting the tournament in a choke hold from Thursday night onwards, my biggest takeaway is how bad it was for LIV to have a bye week. As the league seeks outside investors to provide money to exist in 2027, its two biggest stars did not appear entirely on the bright side of the lottery. Jon Rahm’s 78 on Friday was shocking, and Bryson DeChambeau quickly exited the proceedings Friday morning. Bad time to have a bad week.
Who won the week without winning the week?
Meaning: Tom Kim. He qualified his way through and then guaranteed himself a spot at next year’s US Open. Not bad for a guy who had just disappeared off the radar.
Melts: Keith Mitchell. He opened the tournament with a 41 on the back nine, bounced back with a 29 to get home and then returned for three more rounds of level play. Pretty solid week, I’d say.
Schrock: Jackson Koivun and Miles Russell. The future of US golf made the cut and played the weekend together for both rounds. Koivun, who will now turn pro, tied for low amateur, and Russell, who is 17 (!), acquitted themselves much better than a number of golf’s big names. The future is bright. Place them first in Adare Manor, Furyk.
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