Robert TheodorsonWyndham Clark was just good enough to protect and extend his already sizeable lead over the field going into the weekend at the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club.
Clark’s Friday performance consisted three birdies, all on Par 4s, and two bogeys in what culminated in a 1-under par day.
While it was a far cry from Clark’s dominant 64 on opening round Thursday, Clark put enough room between him and a number of second-place challengers including Xander Schauffele & Matt Fitzpatrick, to go into the weekend with a comfortable lead while much of the field struggled.
Clark will go into Saturday with the added confidence that he once again finds himself in the same position he was in 2023 U.S. Open at The Los Angeles Golf Club. Three seasons ago, going into the weekend Clark shared the lead with Rickie Fowler, and after two days of grinding, eventually held on to win his first (and only) major championship.
Then a relative unknown, Clark has made a name for himself in recent years winning tournaments in 2024 and 2026, and becoming one of the more successful golfers on the virtual tech league, TGL.
Big Names Who Missed the Cut
A number of former U.S. Open champs and favorites couldn’t handle the rigors of Shinnecock. These big names won’t be playing the weekend:
- Adam Scott (T107; 8-over par) Scott’s 100th consecutive major appearance will end in disappointment.
- Jon Rahm (X; 6-over par) Rahm was our second favorite bet to win the U.S. Open after an incredible runner-up finish at The PGA Championship
- Patrick Cantlay (T85; 6-over par) Once an elite golfer who could go toe to toe with anyone, Cantlay’s career appears to be on the downturn.
- Bryson DeChambeau (T73; 5-over par) The disaster that has been the 2026 season continues as Bryson misses his 3rd consecutive major cut of the year.
- Viktor Hovland (T73; 5-over par) Hovland used to be a favorite to win whatever major he was a part of.
- J.J. Spaun (T107; 8-over par) There will be no repeat champion this year, but we will always remember Spaun’s incredible win at Oakmont.
- Brooks Koepka (T126; 10-over par) The last U.S. Open champion at Shinnecock couldn’t repeat, and never really had a shot. Koepka sitting out a number of PGA Tour signature events may have had a part in putting some rust on the five-time major winner’s swing.
Risers and Fallers – Who Realistically Has a Chance to Beat Clark?
Does Wyndham Clark hold an insurmountable lead for this contest? Likely not.
It’s so easy to pick up a double bogey or worse as Shinnecock. We’ve already seen so many otherwise good rounds derailed by one or two mistakes that can cost golfers all the ground they’ve made up, and more.
While Clark’s 7-under par is by far and away the most dominant performance we’ve seen over the course of two days (a 36-hole record at Shinnecock), a number of our previously projected Top 25 golfers have a great chance to make a run like Clark did on Thursday, and narrow the gap.
Scottie Scheffler (1st)*, Sam Burns (3rd), Rory McIlroy (4th), Xander Schauffele (5th), and Matt Fitzpatrick (6th) are all within striking distance of catching Clark with a couple of good rounds.
* = Rankings 1 – 25 from our pre-tournament Top 25 at the 2026 U.S. Open article
Fan favorites Dustin Johnson (T46;3-over par) and Rory McIlroy (T11; even par) both found themselves in second place during different parts of the day, but struggled mightily down the stretch.
While DJ blew a 4-under par score that had him sitting pretty as a legitimate contender, McIlroy’s day was just as bad, with more stops along the way: two birdies, three bogeys, two birdies, and a double bogey all before the final three holes.
DJ and Rory will live to fight another day, but without having world-breaking rounds on moving day, both men will be left to wonder what might have been.
Will Scottie Scheffler be the man to break through? With a second round of 68, Scheffler pulled to a score of even par. Scheffler’s approach shots were off target all day, leaving the world’s number one golfer with several near-impossible birdie putts, the majority of which predictably did not go in.
Nonetheless, Scheffler battled the elements and regained his composure, putting himself in a position to make a weekend run and secure the Career Grand Slam.
Can Scheffler, McIlroy, Johnson, or another challenger be the man to pull off a miracle two-day run, or is Clark destined for a second U.S. Open?
