Wyndham Clark extended his lead at the 2026 U.S. Open after gusting winds disrupted top players, with the BBC reporting the American golfer holding a four-shot advantage at Shinnecock Hills. Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler, the world’s top two players, finished the second round at level par, seven shots behind Clark, who carded a 69 on Friday following a 64 on Thursday. The weather, a recurring factor in the tournament, saw scoring averages drop from 73.87 on Thursday to 71.97 for early Friday starters, according to the BBC.
Clark’s Strategic Advantage in Windy Conditions
Clark, the 2023 U.S. Open champion, capitalized on favorable late-Thursday and early-Friday conditions to build his lead. His second-round 69 brought his total to 133, four strokes ahead of England’s Matt Fitzpatrick, who carded a 70 to reach three under par. Fitzpatrick, the 2022 champion, was among Clark’s closest challengers, joined by Xander Schauffele and South Korea’s Tom Kim, who both finished at three under. The wind, while not as severe as Thursday’s 40mph gusts, remained a significant challenge, particularly on the greens.
“With the amount of pitch you have on the greens, playing in the wind is extremely difficult, and judging speed on putts when the wind is blowing that hard can be challenging as well,” Scheffler said, per the BBC. The American, who finished at level par, struggled with the conditions, as did McIlroy, who briefly threatened Clark’s lead before faltering on the back nine.
McIlroy and Scheffler’s Struggles Amid Shifting Weather
McIlroy, who opened with two birdies, saw his momentum stall as the wind intensified. The Northern Irishman finished the second round at level par, seven strokes behind Clark, with the BBC noting that his “side of the draw played in the windiest conditions and the scores show that.” McIlroy’s performance highlighted the tournament’s unpredictability, as players on the same side of the draw faced starkly different outcomes. While McIlroy and Scheffler struggled, Kim and Sam Stevens, also on their side of the draw, finished four shots behind Clark, underscoring the weather’s uneven impact.
The wind’s influence extended beyond individual performances. The BBC reported that the scoring average for Friday’s early starters dropped to 71.97, a stark contrast to Thursday’s 73.87. This shift underscored the challenges of scheduling a multi-day event in an outdoor sport, where weather conditions can drastically alter the playing field.
Leaderboard Dynamics and Key Performers
The second-round leaderboard featured a mix of familiar names and rising stars. Beyond Clark and Fitzpatrick, players like Sam Stevens and Tom Kim emerged as contenders, while Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler faced the brunt of the wind’s challenges. The BBC noted that McIlroy’s struggles were compounded by “poorly executed shots” on the back nine, a combination of wind and tactical errors that cost him ground. Scheffler, meanwhile, acknowledged the wind as “the biggest challenge,” a sentiment echoed by several competitors.
Clark’s ability to adapt to shifting conditions has positioned him as the favorite heading into the final two rounds. His 64 on Thursday and 69 on Friday demonstrate a consistent approach, even as the course’s difficulty increased.
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