Wyndham Clark survives hostile crowd and Sam Burns charge to win second US Open at Shinnecock Hills

Wyndham Clark celebrates after making a putt during the final round of the 126th U.S.Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y., on June 21, 2026.(Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)

Unfortunately for Scheffler, and the crowd following the group, the world No.1 didn’t have quite as much magic in his clubs on Sunday as Sam Burns did.Attempting to become acareer Grand Slam winneron his 30th birthday, Scheffler never really put much pressure on Clark.He bogeyed the first hole and shot a one-over 36 on the front nine before trudging his way to a one-over 71.

While mostgolffans probably assumed that Scheffler would be the guy to chase down Clark, it was Burns who emerged as Clark’s biggest threat after beginning the day at even par and seven shots behind Clark.

Not only did Burns come out firing, but Clark struggled early.He made bogey on the par-3 second hole, made a mess of the easiest hole on the course, the par-5 fifth, for another bogey and then added a third dropped shot with a bogey on No.7.

With momentum clearly gone and Burns charging, it would have been easy for Clark to wilt under the immense pressure.But he managed to steady the ship and make par at No.8 and No.9 before ripping driver on No.10 straight down the middle.The broadcast questioned the choice of club off the tee, but Clark’s plan worked to perfection, eventually making his first birdie of the day.

Clark made another bogey on No.13 and Burns got within one shot of the lead.

But two key moments took place down the stretch.Burns, who was several groups ahead of Clark, nearly holed his birdie putt on 18.As the putt just missed on the right side of the cup, Burns dropped to his knees.It was as if he knew he might have been just that close to winning the U.S.Open.And he was.

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Clark’s 24-and-a-half-foot birdie putt on 16 pushed his lead over Burns back to two shots with two holes to play.At that moment, Clark could feel the trophy in his hands, and that’s a familiar feeling given hewon the 2023 U.S.Openat Los Angeles Country Club.

Wyndham Clark celebrates with girlfriend Emily Tanner after winning the 126th U.S.Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club.(Warren Little/Getty Images)

But his nerves showed on No.17.Clark hit a conservative tee shot on the par-3, leaving himself a nearly 70-foot putt.His birdie effort came up six feet short, and he followed that by pulling his par putt left to drop his lead back to one.

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All Clark needed to do on the 72nd hole of the tournament was to make par and he would become a two-time U.S.Open champion.And that’s exactly what he did, although it didn’t start great.Clark leaked his tee shot to the right and it skirted into the rough.He got the ball to the green in two, but stood over 50 feet away.Clark calmly stepped up and perfectly lagged his putt to within one foot of the hole, tapped in for par and became a two-time major champion.

And, on Father’s Day, Clark’s dad surprised him by taking a red-eye flight toNew Yorkso that he could greet his son following the victory.

Perhaps most importantly, though, Clark became the first American to win a major in 2026 after Europeans Rory McIlroy and Aaron Rai wonthe Mastersand PGA Championship respectively.

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That also means the U.S.Open trophy is staying where it belongs.

Dan Zaksheske is a reporter at OutKick.