Clark Triumphs for First Major Win | Sunday Swing

Welcome back to another edition of the Sunday Swing presented by 2nd Swing Golf. This week the world of golf was buzzing as the third men’s major of the year was being contested in Los Angeles, and the LPGA Tour was in the midwest for the Meijer LPGA Classic. 

U.S. Open - Tournament History 

The United States Open is one of the oldest traditions in the game of golf dating all the way back to 1895. One of the things that makes it so unique and beloved is that anyone with a handicap index of 1.4 or lower can sign up and compete for a spot in the field. Another characteristic that makes it so endearing is that the USGA traditionally sets the course up as difficult as possible. Considered the toughest test in golf, players will be forced to deal with tucked pins, firm and lightning fast fairways and greens, and rough that’s thick enough to make a ball disappear. This year, in one of the most anticipated editions yet, the players faced the test of the Los Angeles Country Club for the very first time. Set in the heart of Beverly Hills, the George Thomas design features long holes with wide fairways, fast greens, and treacherous bunkers surrounded by thick, punishing fescue. 

The Big Swing

This week the Big Swing goes to the U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark. With all of the storylines leading into this week, Wyndham Clark’s was probably not the one people were expecting to hear. Clark broke through for his first win about a month ago at the Wells Fargo Championship, which is an impressive accomplishment in its own right given the field and status that week. The U.S. Open however, is an entirely different animal. Clark (who’s best major finish is T75), came into the U.S. Open having to battle with the games biggest juggernauts and was merely an afterthought for most golf fans. After all, Clark ended 2022 as the 163rd ranked player in the world.

To start the week, two players made history and shot the lowest rounds ever in the tournament's 123 year existence. Xander Schauffele and Rickie Fowler each shot tournament record 8-under 62s to co-lead the tournament after round one. Some other names high on the leaderboard included Rory McIlroy (-5), Scottie Scheffler (-3), Dustin Johnson (-6), and Bryson Dechambeau (-3). 

Clark opened with a stellar round of 64 (-6), and carried that momentum over to Friday where he backed it up with a 67 to put himself squarely in the mix heading into the weekend. 

The biggest story of the week at this stage was Fowler, one of the most popular players in the game who, just one year ago, did not even qualify for the U.S. Open. He backed up his opening 62 with a 68 to hold the 36-hole lead at 10-under-par and had already made 18 birdies.

On Saturday, the players faced a tough test and saw the scoring average rise. The course firmed up both in the fairways and around the greens, requiring more precision to keep the ball in play and score. Fowler and Clark teed off in the final pairing with just a single shot separating the two of them. Entering the 18th hole, Fowler led Clark by two and appeared to be in complete control. However, this is where the turning point of the tournament took place. Clark made a remarkable birdie to get to 10-under par while his playing partner missed a 3-footer for par and fell back to 10-under setting up an epic Sunday battle. 

The story early on Sunday was Tommy Fleetwood making a charge up the leaderboard. He posted a 5-under 30 on the front nine including an eagle at the par-4 sixth hole. On the back nine, Fleetwood kept the pedal down making birdie at the 297 yard par-3 11th, and then making another eagle at the par-5 14th to get to 8-under for the round, and just four shots off the lead. Although Fleetwood would bogey the 16th and card a 63, he still vaulted into the top 5 with the strong finish. 

The final two pairings consisted of McIlroy paired with Scheffler and Fowler paired with Clark once again. Clark took command early, making birdies on three of the first six holes to take the solo lead. Fowler went the opposite direction, falling to 3-over par for the round after the difficult seventh hole. After a birdie at the first, McIlroy proceeded to par the next 12 holes and served as the closest threat to Clark all day.

McIlroy made a disappointing bogey at No. 14, seemingly sealing the victory for Clark. However, Clark made bogeys at 15 and 16, giving himself just a one shot lead over McIlroy. On the 17th, Clark pulled his approach shot well left of the green and was forced to make a nervy up and down for par. After pulling it off, Clark was just one hole from hoisting the trophy. McIlroy made par in the group ahead to post 9-under in the clubhouse, meaning a par for Clark would seal the deal. 

After finding the right side of the fairway, Clark hit his approach shot onto the 18th green to about 60 feet – certainly not an easy two-putt, especially under the circumstances. However, Clark calmly delivered an excellent lag putt that settled just over a foot from the hole. He converted his par and the celebration ensued. 

Winner’s Bag - Wyndham Clark

Wyndham Clark had never won on the PGA Tour as of April 2023. He had contended a few times, sure, but he was not a household name to take note of in big events. That’s changed quickly thanks to his win at the Wells Fargo Championship in May and now his first major win at the U.S. Open this past weekend at The Los Angeles Country Club. Clark outlasted a star-studded group with some tough play down the stretch to enter the major winner’s circle. Off the tee, Clark games the Titleist TSi3 (9 degrees). Clark’s lone TaylorMade club is his Stealth 2 3-wood (15 degrees). Powering Clark’s impressive iron game is a Titleist T200 3-iron and a set of Titleist 620 CBs (4-9 iron). Around the greens, Clark plays a trio of Titleist Vokey Design SM9 wedges (46, 52, 56) along with a Titleist Vokey Design WedgeWorks lob wedge (60 degrees). On the greens, Clark rolls the Odyssey Jailbird Versa, inspired by his playing partner for the final two rounds, Rickie Fowler.

In the World of Women’s Golf

This week on the LPGA Tour, the best women’s golfers gathered in Belmont, Michigan and the Blythefield Country Club for the playing of the Meijer LPGA Classic. This week the field was strong as it usually is, and the players were taking advantage of their last opportunity to gear up for the Women’s PGA Championship next week. The story this week is all about the stud from Ireland, Leona Maguire, and her remarkable Sunday magic. Not that she didn’t play well all week (opening with rounds of 69, 65, 69), Maguire was flawless on Sunday posting her lowest round of the week – a 64 highlighted by playing the final six holes in six-under par to steal the show by just two shots. In second place it was Ariya Jutanugarn who, if not for an opening round 73, probably would have won the tournament herself. She followed her 73 with rounds of 64, 66, and 66 to post an impressive score of 19-under par. Next week, the ladies will head to the historic Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey.