Another storied chapter has been added to golf history in the 123rd U.S. Open!
Los Angeles Country Club, opened on May 30,1911, hosted the 123rd U.S. Open Championship June 15-18. In 1921, both the North and South courses were redesigned by Herbert Fowler and George C. Thomas, Jr. This year’s U.S. Open was played on the North Course which was unveiled after the completion of a five-year redesign project to restore George Thomas Jr’s original 1921 design. In February 2010, an extensive restoration of the North Course by Gil Hanse and Thomas biographer Geoff Shackelford took place and the course reopened in October 2010.
Los Angeles Country Club’s North Course was set up at 7,423 yards and played to a par of 35-35–70. The yardage for each round of the championship varied due to course setup and conditions. This was the second-straight major championship this season (Oak Hill) that offered a Par 70 test for the players. Seventy-two of the top 75 players in the Official World Golf Rankings were in the U.S. Open field, including 2022 U.S. Open Champion Matt Fitzpatrick.
The 2023 U.S. Open had a record-setting $20 million purse, which is a $2.5 million increase from last year’s tournament. It marks the largest-ever payout for a major event. The winner’s share of the purse was $3.6 million. 2nd place was $2.16 million, and 3rd place was $1.41 million. Matt Fitzpatrick banked $3.15 million a year ago after winning at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts. Jon Rahm won $2.25 million two years ago Torrey Pines in San Diego. For comparison, the 2023 Master’s paid out $18 million in winnings while the PGA Championship had a $17.5 million purse.
FRONT NINE
The US Open Leaderboard looked like this as the last group headed to the first tee in the final round.
Rickie Fowler -10 in 1st, Wyndham Clark -10. 3rd Rory McIlroy -9. 4th Scottie Scheffler -7. 5th Harris English -6, 6th Dustin Johnson -5, Tommy Fleetwood +1. If the early tee times are any indication of how tough the course is playing today, it could be a long afternoon for our leaders. 72 degrees with Partly cloudy skies and prevailing SW wind at 6-8 MPH should make the course challenging.
Harris English -4 double bogeyed the 2nd while McIlroy -10 and Clark -11 both birdied the 1st. Fleetwood (63) is currently the early leader in the clubhouse at -5. Xander Schauffele -5 moves into a tie for 5th place with Fleetwood. Although Fowler -9, looked a little uncomfortable over the first four holes, he has managed to stay close to McIlroy -10 and the current leader Clark -11. Fowler- 8 bogeys the 5th to fall into 3rd place. Clark -12 moves 2 ahead of McIlroy -10 with a birdie on the 6th. Fowler-7 bogies the 7th. Scheffler -7 Birdies the 8th ties for 3rd. Clark -11 bogies the 8th and Fowler -8 birdies the 8th
BACK NINE
Here’s a look at the leaderboard as the last twosome headed to the 10th tee. 1st Clark -11, 2nd McIlroy -10, 3rd Fowler -8, 4th Scheffler -7, 5th Schauffele -6, 6th Johnson -5, Fleetwood -5, Cameron Smith -5. From all indications, it looks as though the courses’ “Giveth and taketh Away” personality will continue to insert itself into today’s final 9 holes. Smith -6 birdies the 15th to move into tie for 4thplace. Fowler -6 bogies the 12th and falls into a tie for 3rd with Smith -6. With the final group heading to the 14th tee, it looks like a two-man race for the finish. Neither Clark -12 nor McIlroy -11 can seem to find the elusive birdies they need to make a break heading into the final 5 holes.
Cameron Smith -6 is the new leader in the clubhouse. His three birdies on the back nine (32) left him tied for 3rd. McIlroy -9 bogies the 14thhole to fall 2 behind Clark at -11. Looks like McIlroy might have blinked first with 4 holes to play. Fowler -7 moves into sole possession of 3rd place with a birdie on the 14th hole. Clark -11 bogies the 15th hole. Scheffler -7 birdies the 16th to tie Fowler -7 for 3rd place. Fowler-6 bogies the 15th and falls back into a tie with Smith -6 for 4th place. Clark -10 bogies the 15th and drops his lead to 1 stroke ahead of McIlroy -9. McIlroy -9 pars the 18th while Clark -10 pars the 18 hole and wins the 2023 US Open by 1 stroke over Rory McIlroy.
An emotional scene erupted on the 18th green after Clark knocked in his 18 inch putt to clinch. He burst into tears in the arms of his caddy. The tearful Clark dedicated the win to his late mother Lise, who died of breast cancer ten years ago when he was finding his feet in the college ranks at Oklahoma State.
When asked by NBC Golf Reporter Damon Hack, “Your first time in contention in a major and you played like you’ve been there many times before why was it your time?”
Wyndham Clark, the winner, replied, “You know I just felt like my mom was watching over me today and I just feel like I’ve worked so hard, and I dreamed about this moment for so long there’s been so many times I’ve visualized being here in front of you guys and winning this championship. I just feel like it was my time.”
Wyndham Clark wins his first Major, earning $3.6 million along with 600 FedEx points. Clark finished second at the Bermuda Championship in 2020, losing a playoff to PGA Tour veteran Brian Gay. In May 2023, Clark won his first PGA Tour event at the Wells Fargo Championship. He beat Xander Schauffele by four shots and collected $3.6 million with the win.
2nd Place goes to Rory McIlroy who pockets $2.16 million and 320 points while 3rd Place – Scottie Scheffler – banks $1.41 million and 210 points.
NOTEBOOK
Matthieu Pavon, Sam Burns, and Matthew Fitzpatrick all had Hole in Ones on the 15th Par 3 hole. Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele both shot 62’s in the first round which are a new U.S. Open record. Tom Kim and Austin Eckroat tied a U.S. Open record with 29’s on the front nine. Rickie Fowler’s 18 birdies over the first two days along with his 130 total were also U.S. Open records. 156 players were entered into this year’s U.S. Open but only 19 were in the final round under par. Four amateurs were playing in the final round. Tommy Fleetwood (63) established a new U.S. Open record with lowest final round score.
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