The 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills delivered drama, as Wyndham Clark emerged with the trophy — his second major **** le and second U.S. Open — but not without a Sunday that teetered on the brink of collapse.
For three days, Clark looked untouchable, building a commanding six-shot lead that suggested a procession. By late Sunday afternoon, that confidence waned. Shot by shot, his margin evaporated, tension thickened and what once felt inevitable suddenly felt fragile. The galleries sensed it, too, their energy shifting as Clark fought to steady himself against both the course and the moment. In the end, he held on.
And yet, the story of the season is not finished.
With one major remaining, the sport’s attention now turns across the pond to Royal Birkdale, where the 154th Open Championship awaits. The seaside links in Southport, England, will provide a dramatically different test — firm turf, coastal winds, and a style of golf that demands imagination as much as precision.
The road to Royal Birkdale begins to take shape in mid-July, when the 2026 Open Championship returns to one of England’s most storied links. The 154th edition will be contested from Thursday, July 16 through Sunday, July 19, along the windswept coast of Southport in Merseyside.
For three days, Clark looked untouchable, building a commanding six-shot lead that suggested a procession. By late Sunday afternoon, that confidence waned. Shot by shot, his margin evaporated, tension thickened and what once felt inevitable suddenly felt fragile. The galleries sensed it, too, their energy shifting as Clark fought to steady himself against both the course and the moment. In the end, he held on.
And yet, the story of the season is not finished.
With one major remaining, the sport’s attention now turns across the pond to Royal Birkdale, where the 154th Open Championship awaits. The seaside links in Southport, England, will provide a dramatically different test — firm turf, coastal winds, and a style of golf that demands imagination as much as precision.
The road to Royal Birkdale begins to take shape in mid-July, when the 2026 Open Championship returns to one of England’s most storied links. The 154th edition will be contested from Thursday, July 16 through Sunday, July 19, along the windswept coast of Southport in Merseyside.
4 months ago
