US Open leaderboard LIVE: Golf result and reaction as Rory McIlroy outduelled by Wyndham Clark
Rory McIlroy loses by a single shot to suprise winner Wyndham Clark on dramatic final day
Rory McIlroy’s major golf heartbreak continued as he narrowly missed out on US Open glory, beaten by a single stroke by unheralded American Wyndham Clark at Los Angeles Country Club.
Clark’s previous best performance at a major was a tie for 75th at the 2021 PGA Championship, yet he held his nerve like a seasoned pro to grind out victory on 10-under with a round of 70 after four birdies and four bogeys.
He was three strokes clear after 14 holes and appeared to be cruising to glory, before bogeys at 15 and 16 gave the chasing McIlroy a sniff. However, the Northern Irishman was simply unable to make a putt all day as a lone birdie on the 1st was cancelled out by a bogey at 14 for an uninspired round of 70, which meant pars at 17 and 18 were enough for 29-year-old Clark to add his name to the long list of US Open winners.
McIlroy’s major drought now stands at nine years and his quiet Sunday with the putter was reminiscent of last year’s Open at St Andrew’s when he couldn’t reel in a catchable Cameron Smith – who incidentally finished fourth in Los Angeles on -6 after an impressive final-day 67. All the other contenders for the title heading into the day faded badly as Rickie Fowler (75) and Scottie Scheffler (70) never mounted a serious challenge, although Tommy Fleetwood’s brilliant 63 enabled him to end in a tie for fifth on five-under.
Relive all the action from the final round of the 123rd US Open below.
Back-to-back bogeys, Clark leads by one
Fowler -6 (16), Clark -10 (16)
Clark up first with about six feet to save his par...and it misses. It burns the right edge and doesn’t drop. Back-to-back bogeys and he’s now back to ten under par.
Fowler makes a mess of the hole and also signs off with a bogey five.
Clark’s lead is just ONE
Beauty from Clark into 16
Clark -11 (15), McIlrory -9 (16)
Ice cold from Wyndham Clark who stuffs his wedge in close. He’ll have a cracking look at a par save. McIlroy meanwhile flies it all the way across the trees and the fairway to the 17th green. It lands, takes a couple of bounces but trickles out past the green.
Clark lays up, McIlroy onto the second fairway
Clark -11 (15), McIlrory -9 (16)
As suspected, Clark has no option but to lay up out of the bunker. He’ll have an up and down from the fairway to remain at eleven under.
Up ahead on 16, McIlroy goes left. It’s way left but it appears that was the plan as he’s on the second fairway, presumably trying to give himself an angle into the pin. The drama!
Bunker for Clark
Fowler -7 (15), Clark -11 (15)
Two far-from-ideal drives from our final pair.
Fowler goes way right with his while Clark’s tee shot refuses to fade back into the fairway and catches the left bunker. It nestles up against the face, surely he can’t take on the green from there?
Gutsy par save from McIlroy
McIlroy -9 (16), Scheffler -7 (16)
Out of the thick rough, Rory does fantastically to chase his ball up onto the green and give himself a look at par. It’s over 60 feet and he gives it an aggressive role but it goes past. Seven feet for par...and it makes it. It’s only seven feet but that’s far and away one of the bigger putts he has made today.
Scheffler hits a beautiful iron into this green and makes a well-deserved birdie from close range. He loves these closing holes - can he now produce the same magic that he did yesterday?
Bogey for Clark, leads by two
Fowler -7 (15), Clark -11 (15)
Fowler gives his birdie putt a role and it burns the right edge - a close call but another par.
Clark chips on but the ball runs away to the right and it’s a tricky par putt...wide! It’s a good roll but it doesn’t drop. His lead is reduced to two.
Rory in the rough, trails by three
McIlroy -9 (15), Scheffler -6 (15)
You feel like Rory needs one birdie on the way in to try and force something magical. With that in mind, it’s hardly an idea start as his drive on 16 finds the thick rough next to the bunker.
That will be a hack out for Rory and see how far he can run that up the green.
Clark leads by three
Fowler -7 (14), Clark -12 (14)
Onto the par-three 15th for the leader and is he in a small spot of bother? He misses the green long and left and that will be a tricky downhill putt.
Fowler finds the heart of the green as he targets another birdie.
McIlroy makes par
McIlroy -9 (15), Scheffler -6 (15)
And the wait goes on for Rory. It’s a solid stroke but it just doesn’t die in the hole and misses on the high side. It’s another par and with that birdie from Clark moments earlier, he now trails by three with three to play.
Scheffler makes his par to remain at six under.
Clark leads by three
Fowler -7 (14), Clark -12 (14)
Clark gives his eagle putt a good run but it just misses on the right side. It’s a kick-in birdie and he now leads by four.
It feels like his tournament to lose now.
Fowler pours one in for a welcome birdie to move him back into solo third at seven under.
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