Wyndham Clark wins U.S. Open, breaks OSU’s major drought

Davis Cordova Staff Reporter

Wyndham Clark accomplished something this weekend only one former Cowboy golfer has done. Win a major.

On Sunday, Clark won the 2023 U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club with a 10-under par, one stroke better than Rory McIlroy. Clark is the first former Cowboy golfer to win a major since Bob Tway won the 1986 PGA Championship. Tway’s victory stood as OSU’s only major until Clark’s win Sunday.

“I just feel like I’ve worked so hard, and I’ve dreamed about this moment for so long,” Clark said. “There’s been so many times I visualize being here in front of you guys winning this championship and I just feel like it was my time.”

Clark had the lead most of the day and kept it in the back nine of the round. On the back nine, Clark made two bogeys and one birdie, but still was able to par the last two holes to win the championship.

“It’s tough on the back nine trying to win a tournament,” Clark said. “I felt at ease, and I just kept saying, ‘Alright, I can do this. I can do this.’”

Clark played at OSU from 2012-16 and earned All-American and Big 12 Player of the Year honors. Clark transferred to Oregon as a graduate transfer in 2017.

Clark entered Sunday tied with former Cowboy Rickie Fowler, and the two were paired together for the final round.

Fowler led the tournament the first three days, setting records on Thursday and Friday. On Thursday, Fowler sank 10 birdies and shot a 62-stroke, 8-under par. That’s the most birdies in a U.S. Open round and tied for the lowest score. Heading into the weekend, Fowler tied the lowest score through the first two rounds. Fowler shot 5-over par in the final round, finishing 5-under par and tied for fifth in the tournament.

Four other former OSU golfers were in the field.

Austin Eckroat - T10th, 3-under par Viktor Hovland19th, even par Sam Stevens - T43rd, 5-over par

Alex Noren - CUT, 3-over par sports.ed@ocolly.com

5. 2016 – Southeastern Louisiana, Central Michigan, Pittsburgh

Yes, that Central Michigan game. The Chippewa’s went 6-7. Pitt took the Cowboys down to the wire in a weather-delayed game before OSU won. The Panthers went 8-5. But still, no road games.

6. 2023 – Central Arkansas, @ Arizona State, South Alabama

It’s a shot in the dark when scheduling opponents far out. ASU was supposed to be a marquee homeand-home series, but the Sun Devils have been unstable recently. But a trip to Tempe will still be tough. And South Alabama is coming off a 10-win campaign and has a real shot to pull off an upset in Stillwater.

7. 2018 – Missouri State, South Alabama, Boise State

Not great MSU and South Ala- bama teams, but Boise State came into Stillwater ranked No. 17. The Broncos went 10-3 and finished runner-up in the Mountain West Conference.

8. 2019 - @ Oregon State, McNeese State, @ Tulsa

The Beavers finished 5-7 in 2019, but crazier things have happened in “Pac 12 After Dark” games. The Cowboys played in a foggy environment in a game that kicked off at 9:30 p.m. CT.

9. 2015 - @ Central Michigan, Central Arkansas, UTSA

OSU isn’t shy to travel to Group of Five programs (UTSA, Tulsa, CMU, South Alabama). Central Michigan was the toughest game on this schedule, and the Cowboys, in their first season with Mason Rudolph at the helm, outslugged the 7-6 Chippewa’s 24-13 in the rain. sports.ed@ocolly.com

10. 2022 – Central Michigan, Arizona State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff Bummer of a schedule. OSU’s opponents finished with a combined record of 10-25, with CMU’s 4-8 record being the best. And all the games were at home.

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