Scheffler, Clark Lead U.S. Open Final Round at 2:30 p.m. ET

Q: Can Wyndham Clark's huge lead break the historic Shinnecock curse where modern 36-hole leaders have never won?

Yes. Wyndham Clark is in position to break that Shinnecock pattern, and his six-shot lead makes him far better placed than past 36-hole leaders who failed to finish the job. The relevant history is stark: in the modern U.S. Opens at Shinnecock Hills, no 36-hole leader has gone on to win. That includes notable collapses by Greg Norman, Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson. Shinnecock’s reputation explains why. It is one of the toughest U.S. Open venues, with firm greens, punishing wind and scoring that can swing quickly. Saturday’s average score of 73.61 underlined how volatile the course remains. Clark, though, has separated himself from that history. He led at halfway by four shots and extended it to six after a steady even-par 70 in the third round, while most of the field struggled. That matters because he did not need a spectacular round to keep control; he handled the course when it was at its most difficult. The main threat is Scottie Scheffler, the world No. 1 and Clark’s playing partner in the final group at 2:30 p.m. ET. Scheffler’s pedigree means the outcome is not settled, especially at Shinnecock, where a bad stretch can quickly erase a margin. But a six-shot cushion in a U.S. Open is enormous. So the “curse” is real as a historical trend, but Clark has the clearest chance yet to end it. If he stays patient and avoids the kind of big-number mistakes Shinnecock invites, history is more likely to bend than hold.

3 articles · Updated · ESPN · Jun 21

2:30 p.m. ET is the final-round tee time for Scottie Scheffler and Wyndham Clark, the last pairing out Sunday at Shinnecock Hills in the 126th U.S. Open.
The final round begins at 7:45 a.m. ET with Dylan Wu and James Nicholas, with groups going off in 11-minute intervals through the afternoon.
Other late featured pairings include Tom Kim and Sahith Theegala at 2:19 p.m., Emiliano Grillo and Sam Stevens at 2:08 p.m., and Sam Burns with Keith Mitchell at 1:57 p.m.
Earlier notable groups include Tommy Fleetwood and Xander Schauffele at 1:46 p.m., Matt Fitzpatrick and Collin Morikawa at 1:35 p.m., and Rory McIlroy with Akshay Bhatia at 12:13 p.m.