Photo Credit: PGA Tour
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Wyndham Clark delivered the strongest performance of Friday and seized control of the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills. The 2023 U.S. Open champion looked comfortable throughout the second round and built a four-shot lead entering the weekend. Clark finished at 7-under par after a second-round 69 and heads into Saturday as the clear favorite.
Clark started the day with a two-shot advantage after completing his opening-round 64 Friday morning. He then managed difficult conditions and responded whenever the course challenged him. Although he made a three-putt bogey on the ninth hole, he recovered quickly. Most importantly, he closed his round with a spectacular 33-foot birdie putt on the 18th green. That birdie pushed him to 7-under and extended his lead.
Matt Fitzpatrick, Xander Schauffele, Sam Stevens, and Tom Kim sit tied for second at 3-under par. Meanwhile, Collin Morikawa stands alone in sixth place at 2-under. Justin Thomas, Harry Higgs, Sam Burns, and Sahith Theegala remain within striking distance at 1-under. Fitzpatrick stayed near the top despite a few late mistakes. Schauffele also mounted a strong charge. The two-time major champion sat 1-over through 23 holes before catching fire. He recorded five birdies across his final 13 holes and posted a second-round 66. As a result, he climbed into a tie for second. Tom Kim emerged as one of the tournament’s biggest surprises. Although recent form suggested improvement, few expected him near the top of the leaderboard. Nevertheless, Kim handled Shinnecock well and enters the weekend tied for second.
Morikawa produced one of the day’s best rounds. After opening with a 3-over 73, he stormed back into contention. He reached 5-under for his second round through 15 holes and made six birdies during a 13-hole stretch. Consequently, he moved to 2-under overall and rejoined the championship conversation. Several young players also impressed. Amateur Ryder Cowan guaranteed himself a weekend tee time after rounds of 68 and 72. His even-par total placed him comfortably inside the cut line. Teen sensation Miles Russell also positioned himself well at 1-over late in his round. In addition, Jackson Koivun remained safely inside the projected cut at 2-over. Ben James continued his impressive run and sat tied for seventh at 2-under.
Harry Higgs provided one of Friday’s most memorable moments. On the difficult par-3 11th, he faced a 75-foot putt from a collection area beyond the green. Higgs rolled the putt into the hole for birdie and jumped into a tie for second. The remarkable shot highlighted a round that placed him firmly in contention. While several players climbed the leaderboard, others struggled. Rory McIlroy appeared ready to challenge Clark after reaching 3-under. However, mistakes quickly derailed his momentum. McIlroy missed a six-foot birdie attempt at the ninth. Then he recorded consecutive bogeys on holes 10, 11, and 12. He eventually finished at even-par, seven shots behind Clark.
Scottie Scheffler also battled inconsistency. The world No. 1 never found complete rhythm but managed to stay in the tournament. Despite looking uncomfortable at times, Scheffler finished at even-par. Therefore, he trails Clark by seven shots but remains within reach if the leader falters. Shinnecock Hills finally showed more of its teeth during the second round. Stronger winds and firmer greens created difficult scoring conditions. Players missed short putts, struggled with approach shots, and watched scores rise.
Nevertheless, Clark handled the challenge better than anyone else. The cut line settled at 4-over par. Dylan Wu nearly changed that number late in the day. He needed a birdie on the 18th hole but failed to convert. Even so, Wu finished at 4-over and advanced to the weekend. Chris Gotterup and Robert MacIntyre also survived the cut at 4-over. Several notable names failed to make the weekend. Dustin Johnson slipped backward after a promising start and finished outside the cut line. Viktor Hovland also missed the cut. Bryson DeChambeau failed to advance as well. Jordan
Spieth did not survive the cut, and Justin Rose also exited early. Another major storyline involved Joaquin Niemann. Officials assessed Niemann a two-stroke penalty after he threw a club during his opening round. Niemann had already suffered a disastrous septuple-bogey 11 on a par-4 hole. The penalty added further frustration to an already difficult championship. As the tournament reaches its midway point, Clark owns a commanding position. However, several accomplished players remain close enough to apply pressure. Fitzpatrick, Schauffele, Kim, Morikawa, Thomas, and others still have opportunities to challenge.
For now, though, Clark controls the championship. He owns a four-shot lead, carries winning U.S. Open experience, and continues to look confident. The weekend now belongs to the chasing pack, who must find a way to catch golf’s hottest player at Shinnecock Hills.
Author Profile
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Bradley Walker serves as the Director of Operations for NGSC Sports, bringing extensive experience across collegiate, professional, and amateur athletics. His coverage spans USF Athletics, including football, baseball, lacrosse, and softball, as well as University of Tampa baseball.
Bradley also provides coverage of minor league baseball with the Clearwater Threshers and Major League Baseball with the Tampa Bay Rays. On the national stage, he covers college football bowl games and conference championship matchups, along with premier golf events across the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and LPGA Tour.
In addition to his reporting work, Bradley is the play-by-play announcer for Pinellas Park High School Patriots football, lending his voice and insight to Friday night lights.
He is also an active podcast host and contributor, serving as a co-host on the P&W Sports Report and hosting The Walker Report, where he delivers in-depth sports analysis, interviews, and coverage across multiple levels of competition.
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