Wyndham Clark holds two-shot US Open lead at Shinnecock Hills after emotional year, while McIlroy stumbles

Wyndham Clark's commanding performance

Clark, the 2023 US Open champion, opened with a flawless 64 on Thursday and followed with a 69 on Friday, finishing 36 holes at 7-under par, a number Brooks Koepka won with in 2018 when the course played much firmer. This is the same player who smashed a locker at Oakmont last year after missing the cut, and who threw a club in anger at the PGA Championship earlier this season.

“I was on top of the world in my game, at least when I won the U.S. Open, and then had some good years. Then, next thing you know, I'm apologizing for breaking a locker.”

He has sought to regain the trust of fans and critics, aided by a victory at the CJ Byron Nelson and a recent third-place finish at the Memorial. His sports psychologist, Julie Elion, noted in a new book that golfers rarely stay at the top permanently.

McIlroy's back-nine unraveling

Masters champion Rory McIlroy, five behind entering Friday, climbed to three under at the turn and looked the most likely challenger. Then distance-control problems surfaced. He flew long at the 10th, 11th, and 12th holes, making bogey each time, and a double bogey at the 15th dropped him to even par, seven shots off the lead.

Shinnecock's evolving test

The course softened by overnight fog provided early scoring chances; Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele shot 65 and 66 respectively. But as the day wore on, a stiffening breeze and baking sun dried the greens, making the poana grass increasingly unpredictable. Shane Lowry missed the cut at 5-over, 13 strokes behind Clark, and described the course as very hard and very stressful.

“I find the course very hard, to be honest. It's as easy as we could have played in the last two days now. A very stressful golf course, and a hard course to come play, and put yourself out there on a pedestal in front of the world.”

Pace of play under scrutiny

Clark's group, which included Dustin Johnson and Gary Woodland, was warned by USGA officials for slow play after falling five minutes behind schedule. The incident added to a growing push against slow play on tour, with the USGA partnering with T-Mobile for real-time decision technology and implementing a 40-second shot clock at the U.S. Women's Open.