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WYNDHAM CLARK HELD off charges by fellow major winners Xander Schauffele, Matt Fitzpatrick and Collin Morikawa to seize a four-stroke lead in Friday’s second round of the US Open at blustery Shinnecock.

Clark, the 2023 US Open winner, curled in a 33-foot birdie putt at the 18th hole to fire a one-under par 69 and stand on seven-under 133 for 36 holes.

Second-ranked Rory McIlroy began the back nine with three bogeys and erased birdies at 13 and 14 with a double bogey at 15 in shooting 71 to stand on 140 and sit seven shots off the lead at the midway point.

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“Back nine was a bit of a battle,” McIlroy said. “Couldn’t stop getting myself to hit it over the back of the green… still feel like I’m in the tournament and in with a decent chance.”

Shane Lowry has missed the cut after second consecutive round of 73 to leave him on six-over, two short of the projected four-over cut mark. His second round consisted of three bogeys and a double-bogey at 11.

Pádraig Harrington and Graeme McDowell have also missed the cut, sitting on 11-over and 12-over respectively.

WEEEEE! 🎢

Rory's rollercoaster back nine continues with this long birdie roll. pic.twitter.com/1KZ9XcuCt9

— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 19, 2026

“I had it on a good line and I almost really called it,” tournament leader Clark said of his last putt. “I’m glad it went in. It was a great way to finish the round.”

Clark posted the lowest 36-hole US Open score ever at Shinnecock, his 133 one under the old mark by Phil Mickelson and Shigeki Maruyama from 2004.

A second-place pack on 137 included England’s Fitzpatrick, South Korean Tom Kim and Americans Schauffele and Sam Stevens with American Morikawa on 138.

On a 20-hole day, Clark parred his first 10, starting with two holes to complete a six-under 64 opening round after a fog delay prevented completion on Thursday.

"Ok, enough of that."

-Rory (probably)

The bogey streak is over. pic.twitter.com/1fhNwmGDDo

— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 19, 2026

The 32-year-old American began his second round with eight pars but lipped out a 43-foot birdie putt at the ninth then missed a three-foot comeback effort.

“Had an awesome day yesterday and then came out today, wasn’t as good, but I really fought and hopefully this is the toughest day for me,” Clark said.

Clark sank a five-foot birdie putt at the 12th and added a birdie putt from just beyond 28 feet at 13 then made bogey at the par-five 16th before the closing birdie.

England’s Fitzpatrick fired a 70. The 2022 US Open winner had bogeys at 11 on a five-foot par putt miss and 12, where he hit a cart path on his second shot.

He birdied the par-five 16th from just inside 10 feet and sank a 13-foot birdie putt at 18.

“Two in the last three always nice, especially at a US Open,” Fitzpatrick said. “Struggled a little bit off the tee on the back nine, but overall scrambled incredibly well to be where I am.”

Two-time major winner Schauffele, a back-nine starter, birdied three of his last four holes before the turn and sandwiched birdies at the fourth and sixth around his lone bogey in shooting 66.

“Pretty pumped to come out and shoot something low,” Schauffele said. “It’s just a lot of patience and good golf shots, for the most part.”

Two-time major winner Morikawa made five birdies in his first 10 holes in shooting a 65. The American birdied 15 and 16 but made bogey at the par-three 17th.

“I chipped it a lot better,” said Morikawa. “That’s the difference of kicking yourself out of a tournament, keeping yourself in it.”

Justin Thomas, a two-time winner of the PGA Championship, closed with a birdie at nine to shoot 68 and stand on 139.

– © AFP 2026

Written by AFP and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won’t find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women’s sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here.