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 for Scheffler
McIlroy -10 (12), Scheffler -5 (12)
Both find the putting surface in regulation but these greens are becoming mighty fast and it’s almost impossible to spin anything or get it to stop on the greens.
McIlroy is up first and it’s another good effort from him which just doesn’t die into the hole. He’s still yet to make anything of note today but he’s certainly lagged these long putts down well.
Scottie, meanwhile...his putting is still all over the place. He hits it far too firm and through the break with his first effort before his second putt is pushed out to the right. Back-to-back bogeys for him and surely he is too far back now.
Cam Smith making a move
Smith -6 (15)
He won’t end up winning (famous last words) but Cam Smith is putting together some performance on this devilish back nine. He makes birdie at the 15th for his third since the turn. Impressive stuff from the Open champion.
Clark saves par, Rickie continues to falter
Fowler -7 (11), Clark -11 (11)
Well, I thought that would be tricky. Instead, Wyndham Clark nearly holes out from the rough - ridiculous shot. He taps in to save his par and one-shot lead.
Fowler, meanwhile, does really well with his bunker shot but he can’t save the par. It just misses on the left side and he’s back to seven under.
A pair of bad tee shots
Fowler -8 (10), Clark -11 (10)
It’s getting nervy out there and the final pair are feeling it. Fowler finds the same bunker as Scheffler while Clark’s tee shot doesn’t come back in from the left and runs out into the rough to the right off the green. That should be a tricky up and down to save his par.
Scheffler drops further off the pace
McIlroy -10 (11), Scheffler -6 (11)
It’s just over 18 feet for the birdie...and it’s extremely tentative. It’s a really good three on that hole but the putting has to be a concern at this point for Rory. Ten pars in a row is no mean feat, however, and he’ll need plenty more of them in the final seven holes.
Scheffler has his par save but he races it past the hole. Still plenty of work to be done for the bogey...but he makes it. Another shot goes for Scheffler and he will need a remarkable back nine to force his way into contention.
Cracking par-three approach from Rory
McIlroy -10 (10), Scheffler -7 (10)
Crikey, that is some strike from Rory into this massive par three. He runs it all the way back and will have another look at birdie.
Scheffler struggles again with his irons and ends up in the sand but it’s a good second to give himself a look at par.
Pars for Fowler and Clark
Fowler -8 (10), Clark -11 (10)
Neither Rory or Scottie could take advantage of the tenth but Clark has another great look after a solid wedge. It’s just over 15 feet from right to left but he pushes it through the break and that will be a par.
Fowler ends up short of the green in two but shows good touch with his putter to tidy up for a par.
Onto the long 11th...
Great par save from Clark
Fowler -8 (9), Clark -11 (9)
Clark hasn’t composed himself fully and his tee shot squirms out to the left and gets stuck in the rough once again. From there, however, it is a remarkable wedge out and a nerveless putt down the slope to save his par. That combined with McIlroy’s miss on the tenth maintains his one-shot lead.
Fowler’s tee shot comes up short of the green and he can’t convert his look at birdie.
The final group make the turn - Clark leads by one.
Another missed opportunity for Rory
McIlroy -10 (10), Scheffler -7 (10)
This tenth is one of the more gettable holes on the back nine and both players give themselves good looks from both sides of the hole. Scheffler hits a really poor stroke which flies past to the left.
McIlroy gives his a good look...but again it slides by. Another one bites the dust for McIlroy.
Big miss for Johnson
Johnson -5 (10)
We haven’t seen plenty of Dustin Johnson and while his playing partner Harris English has fallen by the wayside, Johnson remains at five under. That being said, he misses a really good look at birdie on the tenth that could have moved him up to six under. A big back nine required from him.
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