Wyndham Clark Sets 36-Hole Scoring Record at U.S. Open to Build Four-Shot Lead

Wyndham Clark has transformed the notoriously punishing Shinnecock Hills into his personal playground. The 2023 U.S. Open champion fired a 1-under 69 on Friday afternoon to reach 7-under par for the tournament, establishing a new 36-hole scoring record for a U.S. Open at the historic Long Island venue.[1][2]

Clark’s two-day total of 133 shattered the previous Shinnecock halfway mark of 134, held jointly by Phil Mickelson and Shigeki Maruyama. The performance gives the 32-year-old a commanding four-stroke advantage heading into the weekend, making him just the third player in U.S. Open history—joining Olin Dutra in 1932 and Tommy Armour in 1933—to carry a lead of four or more shots into the second round.[3][6]

The foundation of Clark's historic pace was laid during a marathon Friday. After a two-hour fog delay pushed the conclusion of Thursday's opening round to the following morning, Clark returned to the course at 6:35 a.m. to finish off a brilliant 6-under 64. That score stands as the lowest opening round ever recorded in a U.S. Open at Shinnecock, besting the previous mark of 66.[1][7]

"I really felt like I could be in double digits, but the great thing about that is I didn't feel like I had my best, and I still am leading as of right now," Clark told reporters after sinking a 33-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to cap his Friday afternoon round. "Hopefully I can bring my A-game on the weekend."[2][5]

The dominant showing represents a stunning redemption arc for Clark. At the 2024 U.S. Open at Oakmont, a frustrated Clark missed the cut and subsequently damaged a locker in the clubhouse, an incident that drew widespread criticism and a temporary ban from the property.[2][4]

Acknowledging the fallout, Clark has spent the past month repairing both his game and his public image. He arrived in Southampton riding a massive wave of momentum, having secured a victory at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, a third-place finish, and a tie for 11th in his last three starts. DataGolf metrics rank him first worldwide in strokes gained over the last 30 days, driven largely by a scorching putter.[3][4]

While Clark has separated himself, a formidable pack of major champions is lurking just behind. Xander Schauffele, the 2024 PGA and Open Championship winner, carded a superb 4-under 66 on Friday to reach 3-under par. He is joined in a tie for second by 2022 U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick, who salvaged a 70 after a rocky start to his second round.[4][5]

"Two in the last three always nice, especially at a US Open," Fitzpatrick said of his late birdies on Friday. "Didn't really feel like I made too much up until those two holes really." Two-time major winner Collin Morikawa sits one stroke further back at 2-under par, ensuring the weekend leaderboard remains packed with proven closers.[4][5]

The unexpectedly low scoring has been the talk of the tournament. Shinnecock Hills, renowned for its brutal fescue and punishing winds, played surprisingly soft and gentle over the first 36 holes. The USGA had set the course up favorably to account for forecasted 30 mph gusts, but when the wind died down late Thursday and the fog rolled in, players took full advantage.[1][6]

By the end of Thursday's action, 28 players were sitting at even par or better—a stark contrast to the 2018 U.S. Open at Shinnecock, where only five players managed that feat after round one. Course traditionalists were left stunned as the famously fearsome layout yielded a flurry of birdies and eagles.[6]

However, the course still managed to extract a toll from several big names. Dustin Johnson, the 2016 champion, followed a solid opening round with a disastrous 77 on Friday, plummeting down the leaderboard. Joaquin Niemann suffered an even worse fate, carding an 11 on the par-4 sixth hole after losing two drives and receiving a two-stroke penalty for throwing his club in frustration.[1][3]

As the weekend approaches, the central question is whether the USGA will allow Shinnecock to bare its teeth. With the cut line hovering around 3-over par and the greens expected to dry out and speed up, the final 36 holes promise a much sterner test of survival.[4][7]

For Clark, the strategy remains simple: rely on the experience gained during his 2023 triumph at Los Angeles Country Club and trust his red-hot putter. If he can maintain his composure and navigate the inevitable weekend turbulence, he will be well on his way to hoisting the U.S. Open trophy for the second time in four years.[2][4]