Greg Norman is not necessarily the guy you want to emulate in major championship golf. The Great White Shark would often let his prey get away, squandering numerous gilt-edged chances at major glory (he only won the two).
Wyndham Clark came within a whisker of matching one of Norman’s dubious major records, almost becoming just the 2nd man to throw away a six-shot lead in the final round of last week’s US Open (Norman relinquished a six-shot lead to Nick Faldo at the 1996 Masters). Clark looked impregnable after shooting an incredible opening 64, keeping the field at bay with talent and grim determination. But he faltered on Sunday, shooting 3-over-par to give the likes of Sam Burns and Scottie Scheffler a sniff of the title. He held on to win by one stroke, adding another US Open trophy to the won at LA Country Club in 2023.
Not the people’s champion
Vociferous booing and jeering have become part and parcel of the PGA Tour experience (just ask Matthew Fitzpatrick). Normally, those boos and jeers come from a place of jingoistic boorishness. But this year they were aimed at a very American Wyndham Clark. Firebrand Clark cemented his reputation as the new bad boy of American golf at last year’s US Open, destroying historic Oakmont lockers after missing the US Open cut. He also resorted to some real pettiness at the recent RBC Canadian Open, playing in a USA men’s hockey jersey in the practice rounds (USA had just beaten the Canadians at the Winter Olympics). So, this is a guy who is quite comfortable with being the villain of the piece.
Scheffler charge sealed Clark’s fate
Honestly, I don’t think the animosity would have been so bad had Scheffler not made his customary weekend move. The world No.1- beloved for his affable, laidback temperament- is the opposite of the brash Clark (Scheffler has the self-assured coolness of George Clooney while Clark gives young, cocky Mark Wahlberg energy). Scheffler started poorly but slowly came to grips with the exacting Shinnecock layout, rising through the pack on the weekend (when the course was at its firmest). I think that the Long Island golf bros wanted to say they were there when Scheffler completed the Career Grand Slam (which will almost certainly happen at some point). That desire- coupled with Clark’s reputation- turned the crowd firmly against him. And as Scheffler faded, the crowd just switched allegiance to Sam Burns.
Clark shows resolve
But Clark showed remarkable resolve and always had an answer when the chips were down. That opening 64 gave him a number to protect on a course that wasn’t handing out gimmes to anyone. He just kept the score in and around par through rounds 2-3, knowing that it was highly unlikely that anyone was going to be eclipsing six or seven-under. He scrambled like a titan all week, making a host of momentum-saving par putts that knocked the stuffing out of would-be contenders. And even when he did falter a bit on Sunday, it never really felt like he was really going to let it slip away from him. Just when the momentum slipped, he would get up and down or make an unlikely birdie. Last week’s victory capped off what has been a wonderful career renaissance for the controversial Coloradan.
Joaquin Niemann loses his cool
I never thought that Joaquin Niemann would be the LIV golfer that I would be waxing lyrical about this week. But with Rahm and DeChambeau missing the cut, it was left to Niemann to show that LIV can still make a fist of it in trying US Open conditions. Niemann’s US Open journey was probably the most fascinating aspect of the entire week, with twists and turns and scandal to boot. Niemann started in disastrous fashion, shooting an opening 78 that featured an unimaginable 11 at the par 4 6th! He hit two tee shots out of bounds before flinging his club a frankly impressive distance. The USGA were not too amused, enforcing a two-stroke penalty for serious misconduct (hence the 11). And he deserved it.
Niemann emerges with head held high after controversy
There is a conspiratorial wing that believe he was being persecuted for his LIV affiliation (members of the Niemann camp included). But it is up to the US Open organizers to enforce the new rules regarding misconduct. Augusta National let a few things slide and everyone was left aghast (Sergio hit the tee box and McIntyre was caught flipping the bird). Isn’t launching your club through the air equally, if not more, hostile? I think that any player- whether it was Tyrell Hatton or Jordan Speith- would have been docked two points for that. The US Open were just braver than Augusta in implementing the misconduct rules. But Niemann showed the heart of a lion after that crippling hole, shooting a 2nd round 65 to become the first man in major history to make the cut with an 11 on the card. He then produced a stunning 66 to close, meaning he had shot the 2nd and T3 best rounds of the week. If Niemann hadn’t been given that two-shot penalty; he finishes in a tie for 3rd alongside Tom Kim. If he had made par on that fateful hole; he wins by two shots. Still, the lanky Chilean finally convinced me that he can parlay his amazing LIV success into major-winning form.
