US Open Golf Rory McIlroy watches his tee shot on the eighth hole during the first round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Los Angeles Country Club on Thursday, June 15, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
AP Photo/George Walker IV
US Open Golf Tom Kim, of South Korea, hits his tee shot on the 15th hole during a practice round for the U.S. Open Championship golf tournament at The Los Angeles Country Club on Wednesday, June 14, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson
US Open Golf Min Woo Lee hits from the bunker on the seventh hole during the first round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Los Angeles Country Club on Thursday, June 15, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson
US Open Golf Dustin Johnson waves after his putt on the sixth hole during the first round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Los Angeles Country Club on Thursday, June 15, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson
US Open Golf Rickie Fowler hits his tee shot on the fifth hole during the third round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Los Angeles Country Club on Saturday, June 17, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Matt York)
AP Photo/Matt York
US Open Golf Rickie Fowler putts on the fourth hole during the final round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Los Angeles Country Club on Sunday, June 18, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio J. Sanchez)
AP Photo/Marcio J. Sanchez
US Open Golf Rickie Fowler reacts after missing a putt on the 10th hole during the final round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Los Angeles Country Club on Sunday, June 18, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
AP Photo/George Walker IV
US Open Golf Phil Mickelson reacts after missing a putt on the 10th hole during the second round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Los Angeles Country Club on Friday, June 16, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Matt York)
AP Photo/Matt York
US Open Golf Phil Mickelson reacts after missing a putt on the sixth hole during the second round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Los Angeles Country Club on Friday, June 16, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
AP Photo/George Walker IV
US Open Golf Phil Mickelson waits to hit on the sixth hole during the second round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Los Angeles Country Club on Friday, June 16, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
AP Photo/George Walker IV
US Open Golf Xander Schauffele watches his putt on the fourth hole during a practice round for the U.S. Open Championship golf tournament at The Los Angeles Country Club on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Matt York)
AP Photo/Matt York
US Open Golf Xander Schauffele hits from the bunker on the fourth hole during a practice round for the U.S. Open Championship golf tournament at The Los Angeles Country Club on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Matt York)
AP Photo/Matt York
US Open Golf Wyndham Clark watches his tee shot on the second hole during the second round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Los Angeles Country Club on Friday, June 16, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio J. Sanchez)
AP Photo/Marcio J. Sanchez
US Open Golf Wyndham Clark waves after his putt on the 11th hole during the second round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Los Angeles Country Club on Friday, June 16, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Matt York)
AP Photo/Matt York
US Open Golf Tommy Fleetwood watches his tee shot on the third hole during the first round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Los Angeles Country Club on Thursday, June 15, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
AP Photo/George Walker IV
US Open Golf Wyndham Clark celebrates on the 18th hole after winning the U.S. Open golf tournament at Los Angeles Country Club on Sunday, June 18, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
AP Photo/George Walker IV
US Open Golf Wyndham Clark waves after his putt on the 14th hole during the final round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Los Angeles Country Club on Sunday, June 18, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson
US Open Golf Wyndham Clark hits from the rough on the 13th hole during the final round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Los Angeles Country Club on Sunday, June 18, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson
US Open Golf Rory McIlroy waves after his putt on the 16th hole during the final round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Los Angeles Country Club on Sunday, June 18, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio J. Sanchez)
AP Photo/Marcio J. Sanchez
US Open Golf Fans watch on the 17th hole during the final round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Los Angeles Country Club on Sunday, June 18, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
AP Photo/George Walker IV
US Open Golf Rickie Fowler waves after his putt on the second hole during the first round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Los Angeles Country Club on Thursday, June 15, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
AP Photo/George Walker IV
US Open Golf Rickie Fowler hits from the fairway on the second hole during the second round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Los Angeles Country Club on Friday, June 16, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio J. Sanchez)
AP Photo/Marcio J. Sanchez
US Open Golf Rickie Fowler hits his tee shot on the second hole during the second round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Los Angeles Country Club on Friday, June 16, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio J. Sanchez)
AP Photo/Marcio J. Sanchez
US Open Golf Rory McIlroy hits from the bunker on the 14th hole during the second round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Los Angeles Country Club on Friday, June 16, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Matt York)
AP Photo/Matt York
US Open Golf Rickie Fowler walks on the 15th hole during the second round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Los Angeles Country Club on Friday, June 16, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Matt York)
AP Photo/Matt York
US Open Golf Austin Eckroat watches his tee shot on the sixth hole during the second round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Los Angeles Country Club on Friday, June 16, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
AP Photo/George Walker IV
US Open Golf Wyndham Clark hits from the rough on the sixth hole during the final round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Los Angeles Country Club on Sunday, June 18, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Matt York)
AP Photo/Matt York
US Open Golf Wyndham Clark hits his tee shot on the seventh hole during the final round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Los Angeles Country Club on Sunday, June 18, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Matt York)
AP Photo/Matt York
US Open Golf Tommy Fleetwood waves after his putt on the 17th hole during the final round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Los Angeles Country Club on Sunday, June 18, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
AP Photo/George Walker IV
US Open Golf Matt Fitzpatrick hits from the fairway on the 10th hole during the first round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Los Angeles Country Club on Thursday, June 15, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio J. Sanchez)
AP Photo/Marcio J. Sanchez
US Open Golf Dustin Johnson watches his tee shot on the seventh hole during the first round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Los Angeles Country Club on Thursday, June 15, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson
US Open Golf Rickie Fowler watches his tee shot on the seventh hole during the second round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Los Angeles Country Club on Friday, June 16, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
AP Photo/George Walker IV
US Open Golf Rickie Fowler hits from the bunker on the 16th hole during the second round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Los Angeles Country Club on Friday, June 16, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio J. Sanchez)
AP Photo/Marcio J. Sanchez
US Open Golf Rickie Fowler hits his tee shot on the 17th hole during the second round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Los Angeles Country Club on Friday, June 16, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio J. Sanchez)
AP Photo/Marcio J. Sanchez
US Open Golf Rickie Fowler reacts after missing a putt on the 17th hole during the first round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Los Angeles Country Club on Thursday, June 15, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Matt York)
AP Photo/Matt York
US Open Golf Rory McIlroy reacts after missing a putt on the first hole during the final round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Los Angeles Country Club on Sunday, June 18, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio J. Sanchez)
AP Photo/Marcio J. Sanchez
US Open Golf Tommy Fleetwood waves after his putt on the 12th hole during the final round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Los Angeles Country Club on Sunday, June 18, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Wyndham Clark has won the U.S. Open for his first major championship, beating Rory McIlroy by one shot at Los Angeles Country Club.
The 29-year-old from Denver was playing in just his seventh major and had never finished better than 75th. His even-par 70 was good enough to outlast four-time major champion McIlroy, who also shot 70.
Clark finished at 10-under 270. He tapped in for the victory, pumped his fists, hugged his caddie and then covered his face with his cap.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler also shot 70 and finished third, three shots back.
Clark had three early birdies to pull away from Rickie Fowler, who either shared the lead or had it outright through the first three rounds. Fowler shot 75 and faded to a tie for fifth.
Rickie Fowler has set the record for birdies in a U.S. Open with 23.
He set the mark on his 68th hole at Los Angeles Country Club, but was still trailing Wyndham Clark by five shots at the time. Fowler has made 16 bogeys to go along with all those birdies.
Fowler made the record birdie putt from 10 feet on the par-5 14th hole, his second birdie of the day. He had made five bogeys in the final round to that point.
The previous record for birdies in a U.S. Open was 22 by Brendan Steele at Erin Hills in 2017.
Fowler and Clark started the day tied at 10 under, with Rory McIlroy a shot behind.
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CLARK’S IN THE LEAD
The last group is on the course for the final round of the U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club, and Wyndham Clark has birdied the par-5 first hole to take a one-shot lead over Rickie Fowler and Rory McIlroy.
Clark hit a beautiful chip from just off the green to within 2 1/2 feet to set up his birdie. Fowler, who shared the third-round lead with Clark at 10-under, parred the first hole. They’re both looking for their first major win.
Four-time major winner McIlroy also birdied the opening hole. McIlroy just missed his 33-foot try for eagle.
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CLARK LEADS AT THE TURN
Wyndham Clark has a one-shot lead over Rory McIlroy with nine holes left in the U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club.
Clark played the front nine in 1 under and was 11 under for the championship as he made the turn.
The 29-year-old from Denver is seeking to win first major. He is playing in only his seventh major and has never finished higher than 75th. Clark had three early birdies to pull away from Rickie Fowler, who either shared the lead or had it outright through the first three rounds. Fowler, who also has never won a major, bogeyed three of his first seven holes.
Clark also survived an encounter with LACC’s unique barranca on No. 8, needing two shots to emerge from the tall grass near the green. His first attempt to chop out of it went just 8 inches.
TOMMY’S CHARGE
Tommy Fleetwood is on his way to another low number at the U.S. Open.
Fleetwood holed a long eagle putt on the par-5 14th hole for his second eagle of the round. He’s now at 8-under par for his round with three holes remaining. The closing three holes are among the toughest at Los Angeles Country Club. Even so, he has a chance to join the barrage of record scoring for this U.S. Open.
Fleetwood five years ago matched the U.S. Open record with a 63 in the final round at Shinnecock Hills. That’s no longer the record because Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele each had a 62 in the first round at LACC.
The sun was trying to break through the marine layer over Beverly Hills with the leaders still 30 minutes away from starting the final round.
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UP FOR GRABS
The U.S. Open is up for grabs, and there are low scores available early in the final round.
At about the same time co-leaders Rickie Fowler and Wyndham Clark were arriving at Los Angeles Country Club for their afternoon tee times, PGA Tour rookie Austin Eckroat was making the turn after a record-tying 29 on the front nine.
Eckroat eagled the par-5 eighth hole to post the sixth 29 in U.S. Open history. The fifth came a day earlier by Tom Kim.
Eckroat vaulted into eighth place as he headed to the back nine. He was still six shots behind Clark and Fowler, each of whom will start at 10 under and are seeking their first major title.
One shot behind the leaders is Rory McIlroy, who is looking for his first major since 2014. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler starts the day three shots out of the lead.
