U.S. Open winner through the eyes of his Colorado high school coaches

BY JOHN RENFROW JRENFROW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Justen Byler, the head golf coach at Valor Christian High School, said it’s no accident Wyndham Clark faced intense pressure head-on to win the U.S. Open golf tournament last week. Byler felt a rst major championship was going to come sooner or later for Clark.

“We felt pretty con dent that it was coming,” Byler said. “If you really look back over the last seven months, and really this whole [PGA

Tour] season, he has experienced a ton of success, and it’s been growing over the last few seasons. He’s had seven top 10s, he’s only missed one cut since October, and he’s just playing more and more consistent golf.”

A 2012 Valor Christian alum, Clark was able to fend o Rory McIlroy, Ricky Fowler, and the world’s No. 1 golfer, Scottie Sche er, in the nal round to seal the victory on June 18.

With an even-70, Clark’s 10-under total of 270 bested McIlroy by one stroke at e Los Angeles Country Club. Prior to his victory, Clark never nished higher than 75th in a major championship, and had missed the U.S. Open cut twice prior to winning.

According to ESPN, he is just the fourth golfer in the last 100 years to win the U.S. Open the week of his rst-made cut. Clark earned a $3.6 million paycheck with the win.

He dedicated the victory to his late mother.

“My mom lived in L.A.,” Clark told “ e Today Show.” “I had people throughout the week come up to me and show me pictures, which was so cool. It just created this vibe where I was like, ‘Man, I really feel the presence of my mom here.”’ e victory comes a month after Clark won the 2023 Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina in early May, his rst PGA Tour victory.

Byler said Clark has turned a corner over the last year in how he’s mentally approaching the game.

He recalled coaching Clark, not in golf, but on the Valor basketball team at the Highlands Ranch high

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