US Open: Wyndham Clark builds four-shot lead at Shinnecock Hills with Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler chasing | Golf News

Wyndham Clark has recovered four points after a weather disruption on the first day of the US Open, as Rory McIlroy got off to a good start and Scottie Scheffler stayed in contention for a Grand Slam.

Only six morning waves were able to field in the hot conditions at Shinnecock Hills, where fog forced a two-hour stoppage in play, but Clark took advantage of the cooler afternoon weather to move up the leaderboard.

The 2023 champion reached a par of 32 before canceling a bogey at the third with back-to-back birdies on his next two holes. He then produced a stunning drive on the par-five fifth to set up a close eagle.

Clark was six under in his round with two holes remaining when play was suspended due to darkness at 8.25pm ​​local time (1.25am UK time), with the American in with a chance to make history when play resumes at 6.35am (11.35am BST) on Friday.

He needs to birdie one of his remaining two holes to post an opening round of 63 and equal the course record, and a birdie-birdie finish would see him match the lowest round in men’s major history.

“Making the first two birdies was really fun,” Clark said. “I had a little bit of a lull, but I made some save pars. It was really good to birdie 18. Then I had a little mistake, I missed a shorty on one and I missed two, but then I got into a good rhythm. Everything was clicking.”

Sam Stevens was the pick of the early starters as he set the clubhouse target with a two-under 68, only for compatriot Max McGreevy and rookie Ryder Cowan to match it later in the day, with the four-time US Open champion also sitting two under with holes to play.

Matt Fitzpatrick has two holes to play, and both Dustin Johnson and Gary Woodland have three left, while two-time winner Jon Rahm rounds out the group and is tied for second with five holes to play.

McIlroy impresses as Scheffler makes slow start

Masters champion McIlroy held a two-shot lead earlier in the day when an eagle at the fifth moved him to three under, only for the world No. 2 – chasing his second major win of the season – to bogey-bogey his opening round 69.

“In terms of conditions today, anything under par or anything close to par is a good score,” McIlroy said. “It was a day of really keeping yourself in the competition and not taking yourself out of it, which is exactly what I did eight years ago here. [opening-round 80].

“He came out with the mindset that the pars are going to be good and if you can pick up a few birdies here and there, that’s always a bonus. It’s really just to minimize mistakes and I did that for the most part today.”

McIlroy’s playing partner Ludvig Åberg also finished on one under, while Tommy Fleetwood was a stroke back, while world No 1 Scheffler was four strokes back after opening with a 2-over 72.

Scheffler was joined at two over by players’ champion Cameron Young, while Brooks Koepka – the last US Open champion to be held at Shinnecock Hills in 2017 – carded a three-over 73 and defending champion JJ Spaun struggled to an opening 77.

“It was a really challenging day,” Scheffler said. “If you would have told me when I was staring at my par putt on the 9th that I was going to two-putt today, I definitely would have taken it then. All in all, it was a good fight.”

Those in the afternoon wave found excellent conditions and will be the first tees on Friday, when tee times have been pushed back 15 minutes later than originally planned.

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