American Wyndham Clark is the new US Open champion thanks to a dramatic final day at Los Angeles Country Club where he held the lead over Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy to achieve the biggest victory of his career, while Jon Rahm, with a final round of 65 strokes, finished tenth, Sergio Garcia was 27th and David Puig, 39th.Clark was the surprise winner of the third major of the season, winning with a round of 70 strokes and a total of 10 under par.
The 29-year-old Denver-born, Scottsdale-based American won by one stroke ahead of McIlroy (-9), who also turned in a par card to finish.
This is Clark’s first major tournament win, having played in six majors so far and his best result was a 75th place finish at the 2021 PGA.
But the US Open found him in an ascending moment, after having won 40 days ago the Wells Fargo Championship, his first success on the PGA Tour and also as a professional, a dream 40 days for the already reigning US Open champion.
Clark received the trophy after the tournament’s best fan, fellow countryman Gordon Sargent, who celebrated his 20th birthday on May 27.
Clark, born on December 9, 1993, dedicated his victory in his final speech to his mother, who passed away 10 years ago from breast cancer and was the one who initiated him in the practice of golf.
“I dedicate it to my mother who is watching me from up there,” Clark said with the double emotion that represented that moment of sporting glory.
In an interview four years ago with the New York Post he had stated that he always played for his mother, “because when things get tough, just thinking about her makes everything better.”
“On several occasions I gave up golf, but then I thought that was not what she would have wanted, and I always came back, because I know she is always watching me from wherever I am” she confided in that 2019, and today she surely did it again, to lead her son to the pinnacle of glory. That’s why he so proudly lifted the silver Jack Nicklaus Cup.
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