Clark emerged victorious in the 123rd U.S. Open, outshining golfing giants. Ranked 293rd a year ago, he held off McIlroy for a one-stroke win, defying expectations and proving his ability to compete at the highest level.
In a stunning upset at the Los Angeles Country Club, Clark, hailing from Denver, emerged victorious in the 123rd U.S. Open, outshining some of the golfing world’s biggest names.
Just a year ago, Clark was ranked a modest 293rd in the Official World Golf Ranking, and his best finish in a major championship had only been a tie for 75th.
However, he defied all odds as he held off formidable competitors such as Rory McIlroy, the top-ranked golfer in the world, Scottie Scheffler, and Rickie Fowler in a thrilling final round.
Maintaining his composure throughout the day, Clark played steady golf, carding an even-par 70 on Sunday.
His remarkable performance culminated in a total score of 10-under 270, securing a narrow one-stroke victory over McIlroy, who unfortunately fell short in his quest to end his nearly nine-year major championship drought.
Clark’s triumph stands as a testament to the unpredictable nature of golf and the potential for underdogs to rise to the occasion on the grandest stages of the sport.
“I feel like I belong on this stage, and even two, three years ago when people didn’t know who I was, I felt like I could still play and compete against the best players in the world,” Clark said. “I felt like I’ve shown that this year.”
In a gripping finale, Clark surged ahead of McIlroy with a commanding 3-shot lead as they approached the final four holes. However, Clark’s composure faltered as he made consecutive bogeys, narrowing his lead to just 1.
Meanwhile, McIlroy struggled to gain any ground, managing only par in his last five holes. This left Clark to claim victory on his own terms.
On the challenging par-4 18th hole, Clark confidently teed off, sending his shot down the right side of the fairway. His second shot fell short of the green, leaving him with a daunting 59 feet, 9 inches to the hole. With a crowd of hundreds gathering behind him, Clark maintained his poise and expertly two-putted to secure the win.
Overwhelmed with emotions, he buried his head in his hands and embraced his caddie, John Ellis.
As mistakes early on took Fowler and Scheffler out of contention, the battle for the championship intensified between Clark and McIlroy, a seasoned veteran with four major titles to his name.
The 29 years old, having only made the cut in two majors prior to this week, his recent triumph at the Wells Fargo Championship had bolstered his confidence. He entered the tournament with a newfound boldness, determined to exude self-assurance.
Throughout the final 18 holes, Clark surpassed expectations. In a remarkable feat, he became just the fourth player in the past century to win the U.S. Open on their first appearance after making the cut, as reported by the Elias Sports Bureau. The most recent golfer to achieve this feat was Lucas Glover in 2009.
Follow us on all social media platform, @Sportscliffs on Twitter and Instagram and also like our facebook page
