3 days ago
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While Clark may not be the most popular champion - given his past misdemeanours also include flinging his driver and breaking the clubhead off it during the 2025 US PGA Championship - he proved deserving of the 18-inch sterling silver winner's trophy and a hefty top prize of $4.5m (£3.9m).
The 32-year-old will also undoubtedly concede that good fortune - namely the luck of the draw for the opening two rounds - also played a part in his success.
Clark, who climbs from 34th to eighth in the world rankings was able to capitalise fully from playing his first round in the more benign conditions late on Thursday and second round early on Friday, as he followed his opening six-under 64 with a 69.
On Saturday, his one-over 71 was anchored to a masterclass in scrambling and his proficiency on the greens, with only three players better than him - an improvement in his game that can be traced back to a change of putter at the Masters in April.
After being criticised for "losing the course" at previous US Opens held at this famous Long Island track, the United States Golf Association was adamant it would remain playable throughout the week and produced a final-round set-up to deliver an intriguing finale.
Burns, who led after 54 holes in last year's tournament, started seven shots back on Sunday and was unable to bridge the gap despite shooting a three-under 67, on a day when 17 players broke 70.
With the field averaging 71.389 strokes on Sunday, it was the third-lowest final round scoring average in US Open history.
Not that it helped Scheffler.
His expected charge towards acquiring the full set of major titles never materialised, as he marked his 30th birthday by signing for a one-over 71 to end up four shots back alongside fellow Americans JT Poston and Keith Mitchell.
South Korea's Tom Kim recorded his second best finish in a major at one under while England's Tyrrell Hatton ended in a tie for seventh at one over after a round that matched Burns' and contained an eagle and four birdies.
Hatton's fellow Englishmen, Justin Rose, recently crowned US PGA Champion, Aaron Rai, Tommy Fleetwood and John Parry were all a stroke further adrift.
Meanwhile, world number two Rory McIlroy conceded that the course had "won the battle over me" after finishing six over par.
Masters champion McIlroy carded a final round of 73, including three birdies and four bogeys, as his challenge for a second US Open title fell away.
