Wyndham Clark completed his comeback in style, winning his second U.S. Open title in four years and becoming just the 24th golfer to capture multiple majors. The former Oklahoma State star held the lead from Thursday evening on and survived a tough Sunday to finish one shot clear.:::
One year ago, Wyndham Clark left Oakmont with more questions than answers.
After missing the cut and making headlines for damaging a locker, the former Oklahoma State golfer faced criticism and uncertainty surrounding his game.
One year later, he provided the perfect response.
Clark survived a tense Sunday at Shinnecock Hills, carding a 3-over 73 and needing a par on the 18th hole to hold off Sam Burns by one shot and claim his second U.S. Open title in four years.
It wasn't easy.
In fact, it was his only over-par round of the week.
What made the victory even more impressive was how Clark got there.
He held the lead from Thursday evening onward, taking control of the championship at 6:07 p.m. and never giving it back.
As Shinnecock Hills toughened over the weekend and the field began to close the gap, Clark didn't have the luxury of coasting to the finish.
Instead, he was forced to withstand the pressure that comes with being the hunted rather than the hunter.
And while the final round wasn't his best, it was enough.
Sometimes major championships aren't won with brilliance.
Sometimes they're won with resilience.
Clark showed plenty of both.
But champions don't always need their best stuff.
Sometimes they simply need one more shot.
One more putt.
One more par.
And that's exactly what Clark delivered.
The victory marked his second win of the season and further cemented one of the hottest stretches on the PGA Tour. It also made Clark just the 24th golfer in history to win multiple U.S Open championships.
After winning the Byron Nelson earlier this year, Clark entered the U.S. Open with a string of top-15 finishes and continued to prove that his struggles of a year ago were firmly behind him.
And perhaps the most emotional moment came after the final putt dropped.
On Father's Day, Clark was greeted on the 18th green by his father, who had taken a red-eye flight to surprise him for the finish.
The embrace between father and son provided a fitting ending to a week that was about far more than golf.
Clark's journey has never been easy.
After spending three seasons at Oklahoma State and earning Big 12 Player of the Year honors in 2014, tragedy struck when his mother passed away, leading him to transfer to Oregon for a fresh start.
He climbed to the top of the golf world.
He endured criticism and adversity.
And now, he's climbed back again.
One year ago, Oakmont represented one of the lowest points of his career.
At Shinnecock Hills, Wyndham Clark provided the answer.
Not with words.
Not with excuses.
But with another U.S. Open trophy.
And perhaps that's the sweetest form of redemption of all.
