Scottie Scheffler gave himself a shot at completing the career grand slam but will have to produce something special to reel in Wyndham Clark’s six-stroke lead if he is to win the US Open at Shinnecock Hills.
World number one Scheffler, who headed straight to the putting green after shooting a 69 which moved him into joint second, turns 30 on Sunday and with it also being Father’s Day, he will be hoping to make it a triple celebration.
However, in addition to finding an answer as to how to score significantly enough to put pressure on Clark – bidding to become the first wire-to-wire US Open winner since Martin Kaymer in 2014 – he will also have to hope his compatriot’s good fortune and escapology skills finally desert him.
Clark made crucial par saves from five feet (three times), six feet, seven feet and 14ft but also produced some stunning shots, the best a 275-yard approach to inside five feet for the week’s first eagle at the par-five 16th.That gave him an advantage of seven over the chasing pack and Clark’s lucky breaks continued at the next where he found the heavy rough but claimed a free drop from a television tower and was then allowed to place his ball after it twice rolled away.There were also eyebrows raised about the amount of ‘gardening’ he was doing on the line of his putts over the closing holes on the Poa annua grass greens which have a reputation for becoming increasingly difficult as the day wears on.The rules allow players to tap down spike marks but Clark spent an inordinate amount of time working on his lines.
He missed a five-footer on the last for par to offer some encouragement to the chasing pack, having signed for a level-par 70.
Since the first Masters in 1934 there have been 13 previous instances of players leading by six or more shots through 54 holes and only Greg Norman at Augusta in 1996 failed to close out victory.
“I think it’s appropriate to understand what’s at stake,” said Scheffler, who will go out with Clark in the final group.
“I think understanding the moment and giving it your best shot I think is all part of the process.
“I mean, I’d rather be leading but I have an opportunity to go out there and have a great round and give myself a chance to win the tournament.”
Scheffler at least put himself in the picture, unlike Rory McIlroy, whose bid for a first US Open title since making his major breakthrough in 2011 collapsed after the turn after going out in a two-under 33.
Three successive birdies from the fifth moved him to within four of Clark, who was just teeing off, but he overshot the green at the difficult 10th for the second successive day for the first of five bogeys on an inward nine of 40 and a round of 73 which left him three over and his hopes in tatters.
“I feel good. I have got more and more comfortable every time I have got in these positions,” said Clark.
“I’m hoping I can bring my A-game finally.”
There are only five players under par with Sahith Theegala (70), Tom Kim (72), Sam Stevens (72) joining Scheffler, with four at level par and English duo Matt Fitzpatrick, who struggled to a 74, and Tommy Fleetwood, who ground out a level-par 70, one over.
Fleetwood famously shot a final-round 63 to miss out by one the last time the US Open was at Shinnecock but in the current conditions a repeat seems unlikely.
