US Open leaderboard LIVE: Golf result and reaction as Rory McIlroy outduelled by Wyndham Clark
Rory McIlroy loses by a single shot to suprise winner Wyndham Clark on dramatic final day
Rory McIlroy’s major golf heartbreak continued as he narrowly missed out on US Open glory, beaten by a single stroke by unheralded American Wyndham Clark at Los Angeles Country Club.
Clark’s previous best performance at a major was a tie for 75th at the 2021 PGA Championship, yet he held his nerve like a seasoned pro to grind out victory on 10-under with a round of 70 after four birdies and four bogeys.
He was three strokes clear after 14 holes and appeared to be cruising to glory, before bogeys at 15 and 16 gave the chasing McIlroy a sniff. However, the Northern Irishman was simply unable to make a putt all day as a lone birdie on the 1st was cancelled out by a bogey at 14 for an uninspired round of 70, which meant pars at 17 and 18 were enough for 29-year-old Clark to add his name to the long list of US Open winners.
McIlroy’s major drought now stands at nine years and his quiet Sunday with the putter was reminiscent of last year’s Open at St Andrew’s when he couldn’t reel in a catchable Cameron Smith – who incidentally finished fourth in Los Angeles on -6 after an impressive final-day 67. All the other contenders for the title heading into the day faded badly as Rickie Fowler (75) and Scottie Scheffler (70) never mounted a serious challenge, although Tommy Fleetwood’s brilliant 63 enabled him to end in a tie for fifth on five-under.
Relive all the action from the final round of the 123rd US Open below.
US Open 2023
It’s been a mixed bag for the contenders so far today and, against the odds, it’s Wyndham Clark currently looking the strongest - leading by two at the top.
Clark leads by two
Fowler -8 (6), Clark -12 (6)
Fowler lays up on the sixth but it’s a relatively average wedge shot in by his standards. He gives it a good roll but it just misses on the right and he continues to seek out his first birdie of the day.
Clark, meanwhile, opts for the driving iron up the right, with his ball stopping in the rough short of the green. It’s an uphill lie and sitting down but it’s a marvellous chip to just five feet and he knocks in his third birdie off the tee.
Wyndham Clark leads by two.
Scheffler in trouble
McIlroy -10 (6), Scheffler -7 (6)
Ahead onto the par-three seventh and it’s the world number one this time who is in trouble off the tee. And plenty of it. His drive heads left, way left and it’s unclear whether it has come down amongst the trees.
McIlroy played before him, safely finding the front-left portion of the green with the pin on the front right.
Five straight pars for Rory
McIlroy -10 (6), Scheffler -7 (6)
The short par-four sixth is up next. McIlroy looks to be taking it on but it goes way right and into the thick rough. He hacks out onto the green but it all runs away from the pin. It’s a slippery birdie putt which he leaves about four feet short for his par...and he makes it. A confident stroke from Rory.
Scheffler opts to lay up and spins his back to within 15 feet. A good chance for the world number one but he leaves it short! It’s right in the jaws of the hole but not enough pace. Six pars in a row to start for him.
Two bogeys in five for Fowler
Fowler -8 (5), Clark -11 (5)
Both these two find the green in regulation but it’s Fowler who makes a mess of it. He’s putted so confidently these first three days, but he leaves his first effort short and can’t follow in with the par save. He’s back to eight under now and three off the lead.
Clark follows him but makes no mistake and it’s a tap-in birdie to maintain his lead.
So close for McIlroy
McIlroy -10 (5), Scheffler -7 (5)
As we expected, Rory has to muscle his out of the rough to the left of the green. He opts for the putter from long range...and it lips out! A frankly ridiculous effort that nearly drops. It was running on past by quite some way so perhaps a lucky break too but a smirk nevertheless from Rory in the direction of his caddie, Harry Diamond.
It should be a simple tap-in par but crikey it nearly lips out! A look of surprise by McIlroy at how much that ball moved but it’s a par and that’s all that matters.
Scheffler is renowned for his approach play but that isn’t one of his best and it flies through to the back of the green. His third is nervy and left short but it’s a good par save to remain at seven under
Clark leads by one
Fowler -9 (4), Clark -11 (4)
Fowler does extraordinarily well to muscle his second back past the pin and he follows it up with a good par putt to remain at nine under.
Clark takes advantage of his excellent tee shot and knocks it in for birdie to take a one-shot lead.
Fantastic approach from Clark
Fowler -9 (3), Clark -10 (3)
If Rory’s tee shot into the fourth was good, Clark’s is otherworldly. A high fade which comes to rest about eight feet from the hole. He could well take the lead with that birdie chance.
Fowler’s comes up short and he’s in the barranca. That will be a good par save from there.
Ahead on the fifth, Scheffler finds the fairway but McIlroy’s drive is heading right and wanders into the rough and that is sitting down. Not a good break for the Northern Irishman.
Bounce back for Schauffele
Schauffele -5 (5)
Xander rolls in a nice putt on the fifth to reclaim the shot he lost on the second earlier. He’s back up into fifth but will need an almighty performance to get in contention.
Solid par for McIlroy
McIlroy -10 (4), Scheffler -7 (4)
The long par-three fourth hasn’t been Rory’s best friend over the last couple of rounds but he makes an almighty great swing on the tee to give himself an outside look at birdie. It’s from 22 feet, and confidently hit, but it races past on the right. A par for him.
Scheffler’s tee shot comes up short with the pin in the back but it’s expertly-judged by the American to get down in two from there.
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