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.
Tournament ender for Schauffele
Schauffele -3 (10)
Just ahead of McIlroy, Schauffele has made an absolute meal of the tenth. He catches it flush out of the bunker before duffing a chip from the back of the green. To top it all off, he misses a small putt and with that triple-bogey seven, his chances are gone.
Bogey for Clark
Fowler -8 (8), Clark -11 (8)
All things considered, that’s a really good chip out from the rough by Clark. He rolls it close and escapes with just a bogey.
Fowler, meanwhile, remains focused and knocks in his birdie to move back up to eight under par.
Another once passes Rory by
McIlroy -10 (9), Scheffler -7 (9)
I don’t want to say it, but it’s starting to feel like the putting display we saw last summer at St Andrews from Rory. And we all know how that ended up.
It’s a tricky putt down the slope but it never looks like testing the hole and it’s another par for Rory. However, with Clark’s mishap on the hole prior he is still well in this.
Scheffler recovers well from the bunker to make his par and stay in touching distance as this pair make the turn.
Clark in trouble
Fowler -7 (7), Clark -12 (7)
Clark now has a chance to really put the pressure on as he heads to the par-five eighth. It’s a nice drive but he hooks his second shot left off the green and it’s in some thick rough. He takes a swing but doesn’t get it out!
Could that be the first sign of nerves? He takes another swipe but it flies the green and he’ll now have a big ask to save his par.
Another birdie chance for Rory at nine
McIlroy -10 (8), Scheffler -7 (8)
How will Rory compose himself after that miss? By creating another good look at birdie. It’s a half-swing seven iron and he’ll have just over 12 feet for his birdie.
Scheffler is really struggling with his irons, uncharacteristically so, and his ball has an awkward lie in the rough by the greenside bunker.
Bad birdie miss from Rory
McIlroy -10 (8), Scheffler -7 (8)
Both McIlroy and Scheffler find the fairway with their drives. Scheffler hits a monster second onto the green while McIlroy uses the bank next to the bunker to run one up to the fringe. His first putt is tentative and he still has work to do for his birdie...but it goes by. Just four feet but he jabs at it and how costly could that be?
Scheffler gives his a good stroke but it just hangs out to the right. A good bounce-back-birdie for Scottie.
Another bogey for Fowler
Fowler -7 (7), Clark -12 (7)
Rickie tries to get too cute with that chip shot and it ends up in more rough. It’s a cute second chip but that will be another bogey for Rickie. Three so far and he’s now way back at seven under
Clark gives his birdie putt a great roll but it just can’t hang on and misses to the right. More confident play from the leader who heads to the par-five eighth.
Back-to-back birdies for Schauffele
Schauffele -6 (9)
The American notches another one up at nine to move himself to six under par as he makes the turn. A might back nine if he is to stand any chance.
More concern for Fowler
Fowler -8 (6), Clark -12 (6)
Rickie Fowler needs to get a grip of this round, and quickly, as his chances are fading fast. On the mammoth seventh he goes way right and will face an awkward stance in the rough with a bunker between him and the hole.
Clark finds a similar route to McIlroy and his ball comes to a rest on the left edge of the green.
Bogey for Scheffler
McIlroy -10 (7), Scheffler -6 (7)
Ahead on seven and Scheffler gets a good break with a free drop from the woods. He hacks it out and across the green but it’s a really tame putt to try and save par and he drops back to six under.
Rory again gives his birdie putt a good roll but it misses on the right side. Some of these need to drop sooner rather than latter for him.
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