Clark Tightens Grip on US Open as Schauffele Falls Seven Behind

As the battle for the US Open enters its final day at Shinnecock Hills , Xander Schauffele believes the championship now rests firmly in the hands of leader Wyndham Clark .

After beginning the third round with hopes of challenging for the lead, Schauffele endured a frustrating day on the greens and carded a three over par 73, slipping seven shots behind Clark. The setback left the two-time major champion tied for sixth place at even par and facing a mountain to climb in the final round.

With history offering little encouragement to those chasing from so far back, Schauffele openly acknowledged that Clark is in command of the tournament. Only Arnold Palmer has ever recovered a seven-shot deficit to win a US Open, achieving the feat in 1960.

“It’s all in Wyndham’s hands,” Schauffele said after his round. “If he plays a solid round of golf and shoots around even par or a couple over, he’s going to win the tournament.”

The American had produced one of the best rounds of the week on Friday with a brilliant 66 , raising hopes of another trademark US Open charge. Those hopes briefly grew when Clark bogeyed the opening hole on Saturday, trimming the gap at the top.

However, Schauffele struggled to build momentum. Bogeys at the third and sixth holes slowed his progress before a disastrous stretch on the back nine effectively ended his title challenge. Double bogeys on the 10th and 12th holes proved particularly costly, with wayward shots, bunker trouble and missed putts combining to derail his round.

A day after sinking more than 126 feet of putts , Schauffele could manage only 47 feet on Saturday, highlighting the sharp contrast in his performance. His longest successful putt measured just six and a half feet.

Despite the disappointment, Schauffele showed resilience by birdieing the 13th and 15th holes and producing an excellent sand save for par on the 11th. Yet he admitted it had been the kind of demanding test that defines the US Open.

“It was kind of a long day, a US Open day,” he said. “I had a bad stretch from 10 through 12 and was just trying to get back into touch. Wyndham is playing great , and the rest of us are trailing by a lot.”

Schauffele’s record in the US Open remains one of the strongest among active players. He has finished inside the top 10 in seven of his previous nine appearances and owns the best scoring average in tournament history among players with at least 20 rounds. Yet the championship continues to elude him.

Looking ahead to the final round, Schauffele acknowledged the challenge facing the chasing pack. With Clark holding a commanding seven-shot lead and the difficult Shinnecock Hills layout expected to test every player, the world No. 3 believes a remarkable score may be required to mount any late charge.

“The way this tournament is shaping up, if I can get to four or five under, that would be something special,” Schauffele said. “I’m not even sure if that’s possible tomorrow.”

For now, all eyes remain on Wyndham Clark , who stands just one steady round away from capturing the US Open title , while the rest of the field hopes for an unlikely final-day twist.