Wyndham Clark wins second US Open title after Shinnecock Hills test

Wyndham Clark won the US Open on June 22, 2026, edging Sam Burns by one stroke at Shinnecock Hills in New York to claim his second title in the championship. Clark closed with a three-over-par 73 and held on through a tense final round on a demanding course.

The victory came a year after a turbulent 2025 US Open at Oakmont, where Clark damaged a locker after missing the cut and later apologised. Officials said Clark described that episode as the lowest point of his career and framed the 2026 triumph as a form of redemption.

Clark also cited personal and professional setbacks from 2025, including being left off the Ryder Cup team, as part of a difficult stretch he has tried to move beyond. He said the period pushed him to reassess priorities and reset his approach on and off the course.

In the final round at Shinnecock Hills, Clark said he faced sustained heckling from spectators and played in an atmosphere he compared to “away” environments in international team events. He said some fans reacted more loudly to his mistakes than his good shots, but he protected his advantage to the finish.

The one-shot margin underlined how little room there was for error on the final day, with Burns applying pressure until the closing holes. Clark said the win felt even better than his first US Open title, given the scrutiny and tension surrounding his last appearance at the tournament.

How Clark handled the pressure and the galleries

Clark said he has worked on emotional control and that his anger has eased compared with previous seasons. He credited changes off the course and a calmer mindset for helping him stay composed when the atmosphere turned hostile.

He added that he hopes the victory helps close the chapter on last year’s incident and reduces the attention that has followed him. Clark said he expects some criticism to continue but does not want to be cast as a villainous figure on the PGA Tour.

What the win changes for the rest of 2026

Winning a major again gives Clark a defining result in a season shaped by questions about his temperament and resilience. It also positions him to be judged more on performance than past controversy, as he moves into the next stretch of the schedule.

Clark’s upcoming tournaments will show whether he can sustain this level beyond one week and whether the reception from galleries changes after a second US Open triumph.