US Open: Wyndham Clark takes big lead on final day after Scottie Scheffler boosts Grand Slam hopes at Shinnecock Hills | Golf News

Wyndham Clark will take a six-shot lead into the final round of the US Open, while Scottie Scheffler boosted his Grand Slam hopes with a stunning fightback at Shinnecock Hills.

Halfway leader Clark is edging closer to a second US Open title in four years after another impressive display, in which he used the best conditions and his impressive swing to post a level 70.

The American produced a stunning eagle on the par-five 16th to move out of the field, having already made two birdies and three bogeys in his round, with the final bogey leaving Clark heading into the final day at seven under and one of the five underdogs.

Clark is in the best position to complete the wire-to-wire victory and his second worldwide win in four starts, with 12 of the last 13 players with 54 holes of six shots or more to win.

He will now have a Sunday pairing with Scheffler, one of only two players to break on Saturday, with the world No. 1 sitting tied for second at one under as he chases the hero needed to become the seventh man to complete a career Grand Slam.

Scheffler is joined by Sahith Theegala, Sam Stevens and Tom Kim, with two-time winner Xander Schauffele in the underdog group, while Matt Fitzpatrick – who plays with Clark – is down to one following a one-over 74.

Tommy Fleetwood – the 2018 US Open runner-up at the venue – and Collin Morikawa joined Fitzpatrick on 10 under, while Rory McIlroy dropped to 17 and 10 strokes behind after carding five on the back nine for a third-round 73.

How Clark extended a historic lead at Shinnecock

A three-putt bogey at the start saw Clark’s overnight lead halved as Stevens – playing two teams ahead – opened with a birdie, only for the 2023 champion to respond with a putt birdie on the fifth to get back to seven under.

Clark rallied to save his next two holes but bogeyed the par-four eighth after finding the sand on his approach shot, with a long putt on the ninth that avoided another dropped shot and saw him reach the second front turn.

Stevens began his back nine with back-to-back birdies to give Clark a four-shot lead, who followed up impressive saves on the 10th and 11th with a 15-foot birdie putt to parry the 13th.

Clark saw a five-foot birdie on the 14th canceled out by a close-range bogey at the next, before the 32-year-old made a stunning response to eagle the par-five 16th and five feet to jump seven ahead.

A three-putt bogey on Clark’s final 4 leads but gives him a huge cushion heading into Sunday, the biggest at the US Open since McIlroy’s wire-to-wire win – and a major victory – in the 2011 tournament.

“To be honest, I feel like my lead should be bigger,” Clark said he told Sky Sports. “I’m frustrated with the 18 [bogey] and a bogey on the 15th.

“If you had told me at the beginning of the week that I would have a six-goal lead going into Sunday, obviously I would have accepted it.”

Scheffler started seven strokes back and fell well behind after opening with back-to-back bogeys, but responded with four birdies on the six-hole back nine – including a spectacular chip-in from the 14th green – to go to one under.

“We’ve been fighting hard for days, and I’ve done a good job of keeping myself competitive,” said Scheffler. “I’m going to need a really good round if I’m going to try to catch Wyndham.”

A round of 67 moved Emiliano Grillo into sixth place in a tie with Schauffele, Keith Mitchell and Sam Burns, while McIlroy headed into the final day 10 strokes behind despite being just short on the middle four after three consecutive birdies on his front nine.

Who will win the US Open? Watch the final round live on Sunday from 4pm on Sky Sports Golf. Get Sky Sports or broadcasting without a contract.