Calay News
In one of the most unexpected and moving victories in recent years at the US Open, American golfer Wyndham Clark beat Rory McIlroy by a single stroke to take the title. The event took place in Los Angeles (California), where Clark showed great calm and skill to take on the former world number one in a thrilling final duel.
Clark, who had never finished in the top 75 in any major tournament before, started the day on top alongside compatriot Rickie Fowler. However, McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler, the PGA number one, quickly joined the fray.
Despite being the least experienced of the four contenders, Clark scored a crucial victory in May at the Wells Fargo Championship, his first PGA trophy. This victory marked a milestone in his career, as he had never made the cut at the US Open or qualified to play in the Masters at Augusta.
Clark’s personal story is also remarkable, as he has faced difficult times, such as the loss of his mother to breast cancer a decade ago and his struggle to rank in the world rankings. With tears in his eyes, Clark expressed his emotions and dedicated his victory to his late mother.
During the final showdown, Clark and McIlroy left Fowler and Scheffler behind and met in a tight finish. Clark built a three-shot lead on the 14th hole thanks to a McIlroy error, but nerves got the better of him with two consecutive bogeys. McIlroy closed to within one stroke of the lead on the final hole but failed to make the birdie needed to tie.
While Clark celebrated his first major victory, McIlroy experienced another major tournament disappointment. Although he has 23 career titles, his fifth Grand Slam trophy has eluded him since his outstanding season in 2014.
As for the performances of other notable golfers, Jon Rahm, the world number two, achieved his best result of the week by finishing in tenth place. The Spaniard had a solid last round with six birdies and one bogey. On the other hand, Joaquin Niemann, from Chile, struggled and dropped back to 32nd place, while Colombian Sebastian Muoz finished 49th and Mexico’s Abraham Ancer finished 54th.
Despite the different stories and results, the US Open offered an exciting spectacle of golf and demonstrated once again the unpredictability and intensity of the sport.
