Wyndham Clark made light of the windy conditions to surge into a four-shot lead during the opening round of the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills before play was suspended due to darkness.
After a two‑hour fog delay left the early starters battling difficult conditions, the predicted gale‑force winds never fully materialised, giving the afternoon wave a chance to take advantage.
The best scoring came from those later groups, but it was Clark, the 2023 U.S. Open champion, who seized his opportunity most impressively.
The 32‑year‑old, who earned his fourth PGA Tour title last month at THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson, began with back‑to‑back birdies and parred the next six holes before rolling in a 21‑foot putt for birdie at the 18th to close out his front nine.
After missing a chance at the first and dropping his only shot of the day at the second, the American then went on a spectacular run to pull clear of the field as others
He converted a fine approach to the par‑four third for birdie from five feet, holed from 22 feet at the fourth, and then hit another excellent shot into the fifth to set up one of just three eagles made all day.
This group is absolutely sizzling!
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 18, 2026
Wyndham Clark leaves himself a KICK IN EAGLE at 5. pic.twitter.com/pIjwRWHNUb
With daylight fading, Clark found a bunker from the tee at the par‑three seventh shortly before the hooter sounded, but chose to complete the hole and splashed out to inside three feet before tidying up for par.
Speaking after the round, Clark said the delay ultimately worked in his favour, but felt the bigger factor was how well he controlled all parts of his game.
“When I got my tee times on Tuesday, I thought it could be a tough draw,” he said. “That two‑hour fog delay was very helpful, and it was really nice the wind laid down. It definitely helped those last six or seven holes.
“Getting off to a great start was nice. Then I had a little bit of a lull but made some good par saves. It was great birdieing 18. Then a little mishap on one and a bogey on two, but after that I got into a nice rhythm. Everything was clicking.”
Wyndham Clark opts to finish the 7th hole after the horn.
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 19, 2026
He got up-and-down from the bunker for par and leads by 4 with two holes remaining in his opening round. pic.twitter.com/JRmBhNhhRR
With two holes left of his opening round, Clark will return on Friday morning to complete his remaining holes, along with 49 other players who were unable to finish due to darkness.
Among those at two under par and still on the course are several Major champions, including 2022 U.S. Open winner Matt Fitzpatrick.
Clark’s playing partners Gary Woodland and Dustin Johnson, whose costly double-bogey at six dropped him back to -2, both have birdie chances at their 16th hole still to complete, while Jon Rahm has finished only 13 holes.
Asked how he plans to reset for Friday, Clark said it was simply about recovering quickly.
“Eat as fast as possible, sleep as hard as possible, and get out here and hopefully keep playing good.”
Three fellow Americans — Sam Stevens, Max McGreevy and amateur Ryder Cowan — all sit in the clubhouse with 68s, with Cowan tying the lowest amateur score in U.S. Open history at Shinnecock Hills.
Behind them, on one-under-par, Rory McIlroy headlines a tightly packed group of nine players that includes Ludvig Åberg, Brian Harman, Corey Conners and Bryson DeChambeau, who has two holes left to finish.
Players yet to complete Round 1 will be back in position at 6:35 a.m. ET Friday. All second‑round tee times have been moved back 15 minutes.
