Wyndham Clark seized a significant lead during the first round of the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills before play was suspended due to fading light. The 2023 champion delivered an impressive performance late in the round, pulling ahead by four strokes with a series of birdies and an eagle that capitalized on the more favorable evening conditions. Clark reached six under par through 16 holes, distancing himself from a closely contested leaderboard.
Sam Stevens completed his round at two under par, leading among those who finished before darkness fell. Meanwhile, several players were still on the course when the interruption occurred. The day had already faced challenges, as dense fog in the morning led to a delay exceeding two hours, preventing many competitors from completing their rounds. Despite these disruptions, Clark’s exceptional close to his round put him in a commanding position early in the tournament.
Rory McIlroy remained a strong contender after shooting a one-under-par 69. The Masters champion briefly held the outright lead but slipped back with late bogeys, although he remains within striking distance as the tournament progresses into the second round. Scottie Scheffler, the World No. 1, managed a two-over 72 despite a challenging day, recovering from an uneven start to stay in touch with the leaders.
Tournament officials took the unusual step of watering the greens in anticipation of strong winds expected in the coming days, aiming to maintain fair conditions for the field. With numerous players yet to complete their opening rounds, Clark will continue his bid for a second U.S. Open title when play resumes on Friday, starting from a solid position atop the leaderboard.
