SOUTHAMPTON: Wyndham Clark built a four-shot lead heading into the weekend at the US Open, reaching the halfway stage on Friday at seven under par as he hunts for redemption at the Shinnecock Hills Golf Club.

The 2023 US Open champion made headlines a year ago when he wrecked a locker after missing the cut at the tournament at Oakmont. But he has been all poise this week at the notoriously tricky Southampton course, where he carded a six-under-par 64 in the first round and a one-under-par 69 in the second.

Two-time major winner Xander Schauffele, 2022 champion Matt Fitzpatrick, American Sam Stevens and South Korea’s Tom Kim shared the second spot on the leaderboard, at three under par.

Clark cancelled out a bogey at the par-four ninth with birdies at the 12th and 13th on Friday but ran into trouble late in the round when he landed in the bunker twice en route to another bogey on the par-five 16th. He held his nerve with a beautiful 33-foot putt for another birdie on the par-four 18th.

Starting on the back nine, Schauffele (66) jumped up the leaderboard with a single bogey on the par-five fifth hole, the only blemish in an otherwise superb day with five birdies. The Englishman Fitzpatrick birdied twice in the final three holes to avoid calamity and card an even-par 70.

Stevens (69) finished the day with three birdies and two bogeys while Kim (67) produced some of his best golf with four birdies and a bogey.

Pre-tournament favourites Scottie Scheffler (68) and Rory McIlroy (71) were on the fringes of contention, seven shots off the lead in a crowded tie for 11th place at even par.

World number one Scheffler is attempting for the first time to complete the career Grand Slam of golf’s four majors, after winning last year’s PGA Championship and British Open.

Scheffler drained a nearly 41-foot putt for birdie on the par-four 15th. He put up two more birdies and a bogey for the day.

Clark’s playing partner and former champion Dustin Johnson of LIV Golf was among several high-profile collapses on Friday.

Johnson was second after a terrific opening round (66) but tumbled down the leaderboard with three bogeys, a double bogey and a quadruple bogey against two birdies for a seven-over-par 77.

His fellow LIV competitors Jon Rahm (78) and Bryson DeChambeau (75) missed the cut, along with defending champion J.J. Spaun (71) and Australian Adam Scott (75), who was competing in his 100th consecutive major this week.

The cut came in at four over par, with 67 professionals and five amateurs advancing.

Published in Dawn, June 21st, 2026