SOUTHAMPTON, New York — Wyndham Clark finished off his U.S. Open first round early Friday morning by carding a 6-under 64, the second-lowest round over the six times Shinnecock has hosted the tournament.
The only man to shoot lower at a U.S. Open at Shinnecock was Tommy Fleetwood, who had a final round 63 the last time it hosted in 2018.
Clark, the 2023 U.S. Open champion, parred his last two holes after playing his first 16 holes at 6 under on Thursday (starting on the back nine), when play was suspended due to darkness.
Play was delayed two hours Thursday morning due to fog. That extra wait ended up benefiting the Thursday afternoon groups, who played into the gloaming with tamer winds than in the morning.
That coupled with soft greens — slowed intentionally due to the high forecasted winds — gave Clark and other late starters an advantage.
“Everything was kind of clicking,” Clark said Thursday night. “We were definitely fortunate with the wind laying down. Overall a good round.”
When play stopped Thursday night, Clark had a four-shot lead over a group of seven men, six of whom were in the afternoon wave.
On Friday morning, Dustin Johnson, playing in Clark’s group, birdied two holes to cut Clark’s lead in half.
Clark has been on a hot streak in the last month — winning the CJ Cup Byron Nelson with a final round 60, then placing third at Memorial and tying for 11th at the RBC Canadian Open last week.
Before that, his world ranking dropped from No. 8 in March 2025 to No. 78 this April.
