New York golf fans deserve a call, Sam Burns has a great shot, Wyndham Clark’s best shot at Shinnecock
America 250: Bobby Jones
Bobby Jones was born on March 17, 1902, in Atlanta, Georgia, and became one of the greatest novice golfers in history. As a teenager, he reached the third round of the US Amateur at age 14, showing early promise. He went on to win 13 major championships, all as a rookie, a record that still stands. In 1930, Jones achieved the “Grand Slam” by winning the US Open, British Open, US Amateur, and British Amateur in the same year. He retired from competitive golf at the age of 28, at the age of his career. Jones later founded the Augusta National Golf Club and helped create the Masters Tournament, which began in 1934.
Wyndham Clark is a two-time US Open champion, and not only did he need to overcome the most difficult test that is Shinnecock Hills to achieve that, but he also had to fight the most hostile and loud fan conditions perhaps ever seen in a major tournament.
Shinnecock’s showings didn’t help the growing sentiment that New York fans can be the worst in sports, and deserve to be called out.
As for the actual round of golf that Clark put together for the winning round, it was far from a perfect final round as he posted a 3-over 73 to win by one, but two shots in particular will stand out for a long time. One of the two must get a hold of the other in terms of humor and where they hold the tournament.
Wyndham Clark of the United States looks on after winning the 126th US OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 21, 2026 in Southampton, New York. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images) (Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)
As Clark celebrated his second US Open title in three years, the man he beat, Sam Burns, was in tears in the media center at Shinnecock. The tears weren’t just a result of failing at another school, but more so because of the message his father shared with him after Burns’ rise on Sunday’s leaderboard appeared briefly.
This is Par Talk, a weekly read to catch up on all the professional golf happenings you need to know. You can follow Mark on X @itismarkharris and send an email to him mark.harris@outkick.com.
US Open fans deserve some harsh criticism
The behavior of the fans at Wyndham Clark during Sunday’s final round at Shinnecock was strange, but also on the nose of what we expect from the fans who attended the event in Long Island, New York.
Earlier this month, you had New York Knicks fans rioting in the streets during the NBA Finals. Turn the clock back to September, and Ryder Cup fans at Bethpage Black, also on Long Island, have embarrassed themselves three days in a row. It is expected that things will not go well when we discuss the team’s first title in more than 50 years and in the Ryder Cup games, which were in the US, when it is America against Europe.
What we saw and heard from the fans as Wyndham Clark tried to win his country open at one of the best courses in his home country on Sunday was more than palpable.
It’s great if Clark isn’t your cup of tea, and he’s made mistakes in the past, but it’s hard to see the punishment he received for five straight hours on Sunday fitting his “crimes”.
Clark threw his driver with an ad in the final round of the 2025 PGA Championship, breaking his club. A month later, he tore apart two lockers inside the Oakmont clubhouse in a rage after missing out on the 2025 US Open.
Both of those things were unacceptable, and he’s gotten his fair share of criticism, but people make mistakes, and emotions get the best of players in this ridiculous game.
Wyndham Clark of the United States follows his shot on the 17th hole during the third round of the 126th US OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 20, 2026 in Southampton, New York. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
WYNDHAM CLARK DOESN’T NEED TO BE LOVED, BUT HAS TO BE RESPECTED AFTER OUR OPENING WIN AT SHINNECOCK.
Combine Clark’s past mistakes, his personality that could rub some people the wrong way, and the fact that he’s been playing alongside Scottie Scheffler in pursuit of a career grand slam, and he has a way of creating animosity. That doesn’t mean all aspects of class and respect should be cast aside, as we saw from the fans on Sunday.
Lots of people yelling for his ball to find a place to land at contact, cheers when the shot goes off the mark, and small roars after each of his five balls in the final round. Things got so bad before Clark made the turn that you couldn’t help but feel sorry for the guy.
WYNDHAM CLARK SURVIVES HOSTILE CROWD AND SAM BURSTS CUP TO WIN SECOND OPEN AT SHINNECOCK HILLS
One of the beauties of sports is that fans are forced to choose a side, but there is a big difference between cheering for your side and cheering for the opposition in a polite manner.
New York sports fans will cling to the cliché “everything’s tight in New York,” but those are more than enough for now.
Wyndham Clark photo of the tournament
Looking back at Clark’s final round on Sunday, two straight shots stood out: a bogey on the par 4 10th hole and his layup on the par-5 16th hole from the dreaded fescue lie.
Here’s a look at Clark’s flip wedge into the 10th green while leading by one at the time:
And here’s how he somehow got out of the rough on the 16th, still clinging to a one-shot advantage:
Most will circle the iron on 16 as the most impressive shot Clark hit on Sunday, given the lie, the fact that it came late in the round, and the nightmare that could have happened if he didn’t connect. It’s no doubt a shot he and the golf world will remember for a long time, but the wedge on 10 was otherworldly.
Clark pushed the driver over the tee, a move that no one pulled off on Sunday, and was met with a shot that hit well or off the green with a bogey, at best. A wedge that is not limited to perfection keeps the ball rolling back to your feet, and Clark goes from leader to chaser.
How he produced the number of shots from 61 yards defied reality. Hitting it to four feet and making a slick birdie putt was the moment he captured the momentum of a golf tournament.
Sam Burns has a good cry
Wyndham Clark’s father surprised him on the 18th as he became a two-time major champion on Sunday showing what you might call the ‘lighter side’ of fatherhood. It’s a great moment, but Sam Burns’ old man, Todd, took on a more difficult role, though he’s too familiar as a golfing dad to say the right thing now that his son is missing.
Sam Burns reacts after missing his birdie putt on the 18th green during the final round of the 126th US Open Championship at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 21, 2026 in Southampton, New York. (Photo by Tracy Wilcox/PGA TOUR via Getty Images) (Tracy Wilcox/PGA TOUR via Getty Images)
Burns’ father stood by his side as he hit a few shots on the range, hoping Clark would bogey the 18th and the two would go to battle in the playoff. When Clark put his long birdie a few inches from the hole, he stopped hitting balls and moved on to his family. His father was the first one there to greet him. He put his arm around Sam’s shoulder and gave a simple yet profound message that he was really proud of him.
Normal Sport’s Kyle Porter asked Sam about the quick connection with his father at such a big moment, and a player you wouldn’t expect to get emotional in that situation couldn’t help himself.
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Sam is rightly upset that his charge on the leaderboard has ultimately failed to catch Clark. Being a great champion was there then. It will sting for a long time, but not as long as it would have if he didn’t have the support system he has and a dad telling him how proud he is in what feels like a life-changing moment.
It wasn’t a perfect Father’s Day for soon-to-be father-of-two Sam Burns, but it may have been the most impactful day he’s ever had.
