A summer weekend in the Hamptons when a storm can be held off is always both welcome and not all that typical. And that truth is being doubled down upon this weekend, as the nameless scribes at THE ASSOCIATED PRESS reported yesterday:
Not even Shinnecock Hills and its strongest test of the week in the U.S. Open could match the toughness of Wyndham Clark on Saturday.
Clark had a collection of par saves around the turn as Scottie Scheffler was making a move and poured it on with a fairway metal to 4 feet for eagle on the par-5 16th for an even-par 70 that gave him a six-shot lead…
Now he has one more round to add another U.S. Open title to the one he captured at Los Angeles Country Club in 2023. At his side will be Scheffler, the No. 1 player in the world, trying to turn Sunday into a most magical day.
At stake for Scheffler is a chance — a long shot at that — to complete the career Grand Slam, on Father’s Day, which happens to be his 30th birthday.
Per NBC SPORTS’ Nick Zaccardi, Scheffler appears poised for such a challenge:
Scheffler, playing Shinnecock’s 14th hole, was 1 over and eight shots behind leader Wyndham Clark. Then Scheffler elicited the largest roar of the day on Long Island — and even uncharacteristically growled himself. The world No. 1 chipped in from 65 feet, starting a run of three consecutive birdies. He ultimately moved into a tie for second with a 1-under 69, the second-best round of the day…
“We’ve been battling hard for a few days, and I did a good job of keeping myself in the tournament,” Scheffler said. He overcame bogeys on his first two holes Saturday by recording three consecutive birdies in a U.S. Open round for the first time.
All that said, his task remains daunting, as Zaccardi was also quick to remind: Clark is riding a hot streak over the last month — a win (with a final round 60), a solo third and a tie for 11th in his last three tournaments. He scrambled his way Saturday to an even 70, one of the best rounds as only two men broke par.
And as AP added:
No one has ever lost more than a five-shot lead in 125 previous editions of golf’s toughest test. Greg Norman in the 1996 Masters is the only player to lose a six-shot lead in any major.
OTOH, Zaccardi points out the potential history on the line should Scheffler be able to make a run:
Scheffler must record the biggest final round comeback in U.S. Open history to become the seventh man to complete the career Grand Slam after Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen…“I have an opportunity to go out there (Sunday) and have a great round and give myself a chance to win the tournament,” he said while Clark was still on course…
Scheffler said before the tournament that the Grand Slam has never been a motivator for him. However, he quipped after NBC Sports’ Mike Tirico said in a post-round interview that he wouldn’t mention the Slam. “I think we’re all aware,” Scheffler said with a laugh.
You bet we are. And on a day when scant little else in sports is actually happening–and once brunch is over Dad tends to get to do whatever he wants–I’m more than a little optimistic that we’ll be that much more aware of who he and Clark are–and why we should pay even more attention going forward.
Courage…