McIlroy’s nine-year main drought continues as Wyndham Clark secures US Open

Rory McIlroy’s nine-year main drought has continued, after the Northern Irishman missed out on a fifth main title on the US Open. Wyndham Clark was the person who obtained his fingers on the crown, because the joint-overnight chief shot 10-under-par throughout his 4 rounds to win in Los Angeles.

Clark headed into the ultimate spherical stage on the prime with Rickie Fowler, with the pair properly conscious {that a} purring McIlroy was only one shot again within the penultimate group. And the Northern Irishman kicked off in excellent vogue, securing a birdie on the opening gap to make his assertion to the main pair.

Whilst fan favorite Fowler stumbled out the blocks, 29-year-old Clark was clearly up for the battle, and hit again with three birdies in his opening six holes to cancel out a uncommon blemish on the second. Clark’s quick begin noticed him transfer right into a solo lead, and from there the American star didn’t look again.

McIlroy remained proper on the heels of the chief all through, however because the holes handed by, so did his birdie putts as he carded 12 straight pars earlier than a slip up on 14 noticed him come away with a bogey. Clark did depart the door barely open, selecting up two bogeys of his at 15 and 16.

But as was the case for almost all of spherical 4, the four-time main champion was unable to seek out the birdie he craved. After McIlroy’s level-par end, Clark knew all he needed to do was observe in with the identical, and he held his nerve to do precisely that to safe a shock victory.

Whilst the plaudits had been rightly with champion Clark, it was as soon as once more a case of what might have been for McIlroy. Since successful his fourth main crown again in 2014, the Northern Irishman has had quite a lot of close to misses, however did not get himself over the road within the 9 years since.