U.S. Open Resumes Round 1 at 6:35 a.m. as Wyndham Clark Holds 4-Shot Lead

Q: Can Wyndham Clark's historic lead survive Shinnecock Hills, a course notorious for creating dramatic collapses?

Yes, but only if Clark keeps treating Thursday’s 6-under as a start, not a cushion. At Shinnecock Hills, a four-shot lead is significant, yet history says it is far from safe. Clark’s advantage is historic for this event after one round, but it came on a day when the USGA deliberately kept the course more manageable, with slower, more receptive greens and conservative hole locations because of heavy wind. Even then, conditions were severe enough to suspend play for darkness after a fog delay, and nearly 50 players did not finish. Several proven major champions, including Matt Fitzpatrick, Dustin Johnson and Jon Rahm, were still at 2-under with holes left, so the gap may narrow before the second round is fully underway. The larger threat is the course itself. Shinnecock is one of the hardest U.S. Open venues in rotation: only three players have finished under par across its previous five U.S. Opens, and Brooks Koepka won here in 2018 at 1-over. Its defense is not just length but wind, firm turf, severe green contours and punishing runoffs. Forecast gusts around 20 to 35 mph on Friday, with more wind expected through the weekend, can quickly turn pars into bogeys. Shinnecock also has a record of punishing leaders. Greg Norman lost 54-hole leads here in 1986 and 1995, and Phil Mickelson’s 2004 bid unraveled late. Clark has the pedigree as a recent U.S. Open champion, but at Shinnecock, no early lead is secure unless it is backed by relentless control over four rounds.

Q: Which top contenders will best handle Friday's marathon schedule to challenge the massive four-shot lead?

Jon Rahm, Matt Fitzpatrick and Rory McIlroy look best placed to handle Friday’s long, disrupted schedule and mount the strongest chase of Wyndham Clark’s four-shot lead. Rahm stands out because he was already 2-under through 17 and bogey-free when play stopped, a strong sign of control on a Shinnecock setup defined by wind, firm greens and punishing runoffs. His U.S. Open pedigree as a former champion, plus recent high-level major form, makes him a natural threat over a demanding double-session day. Fitzpatrick is similarly well suited. He was also tied for second at 2-under and is one of the steadiest tacticians in difficult conditions. Shinnecock rewards patience, precise iron play and smart misses more than raw aggression, and that profile fits Fitzpatrick as well as almost anyone in the field. McIlroy, at 1-under after completing his round, is slightly farther back but may benefit from having Friday focused only on Round 2 rather than finishing Round 1 first. He has been in strong major form and has the trajectory control and short-game touch that matter when southwest winds gust past 30 mph. Dustin Johnson and Gary Woodland, both at 2-under, are dangerous because of their U.S. Open-winning experience, while Bryson DeChambeau remains a high-upside chaser if he drives it accurately enough to survive the marathon. Scottie Scheffler is still within reach at 2-over, but with eight shots to make up, he likely needs a much sharper iron day than Thursday.

3 articles · Updated · GOLF.com · Jun 19

Friday at Shinnecock Hills starts with Round 1 resuming at 6:35 a.m. ET, after fog on Thursday caused a two-hour delay and left several players unfinished at nightfall.
Round 2 begins at 6:50 a.m. ET—15 minutes later than scheduled—with Wyndham Clark still atop the leaderboard at 6-under through 16 holes and positioned to extend his four-shot edge.
Rory McIlroy completed a 1-under 69 on Thursday and is set to begin his second round at 2:02 p.m. ET alongside Ludvig Åberg and Tommy Fleetwood.
NBCSN carries coverage from 6:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. ET before NBC takes over until 7:30 p.m., while Peacock simulcasts the full window and featured groups start streaming at 7:29 a.m. ET.