Rory McIlroy pipped again as Wyndham Clark seals first major title at US Open, Tommy Fleetwood ties for fifth

ByRob Hemingway

Updated 19/06/2023 at 08:29 GMT

Rory McIlroy's search for an elusive fifth major goes on after being pipped to the US Open by Wyndham Clark. The world No. 32 American compiled a nerveless final round to beat McIlroy by one shot, and in poignant scenes afterwards, dedicated his victory to his late mother, who died in 2013. “I just felt like my mum was watching over me today," Clark said.

It wasn't the Hollywood ending for the man from Holywood as Rory McIlroy once again came up just short in a major, with unheralded American Wyndham Clark winning the US Open by one shot to land his first major title.

It represented more heartache for McIlroy, whose nine-year wait for a fifth major goes on.

He was, once again, so close but yet so far as he carded a 70 to finish on nine-under at the Los Angeles Country Club, in a round that saw the Northern Irishman's putter fail to truly fire.

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The victory was a hugely emotional one for Clark, whose mother died of breast cancer in 2013.

“I just felt like my mum was watching over me today and you know she can’t be here. Miss you mum," Clark said.

"US Opens are tough. I felt at ease though and kept saying to myself, 'I can do this, I can do this'.

'I know she's proud of me' - Clark pays emotional tribute to his late mother

“There’s been so many times I’ve visualised being here in front of you guys and winning this championship, and I just feel like it was my time.”

McIlroy, for his part, felt his own time will come again.

"I'm right there, it's such fine margins," he told Sky Sports.

"I have just got to keep putting myself in these positions. Sooner or later it's going to happen for me.

"There are a couple of things I will rue. The chip on 14 being one [which resulted in a bogey].

"It was really hard to get the ball close [to the holes] but I hung in there and just didn't quite get the job done.

"I will keep coming back until I get another one."

The best-placed Englishman was the impressive Tommy Fleetwood, who ended on five-under to tie for fifth.

Masters champion Jon Rahm finished a little further back on three-under after a stunning final round of 65.

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts to his missed putt on the 18th green during the final round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at The Los Angeles Country Club on June 18, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.

Image credit: Getty Images

FINAL LEADERBOARD

-10; W Clark (US)
-9; R McIlroy (NI)
-7; S Scheffler (US)
-6; C Smith (Aus)
-5; T Fleetwood (Eng), R Fowler (US), M W Lee (Aus)

Selected others:

-3; J Rahm (Spa), X Schauffele (US), D Johnson (US)
-2; C Morikawa (US)
-1; M Fitzpatrick (Eng), B Koepka (US)
Level; V Hovland (Nor)
+1; J Smith (Eng), S Lowry (Ire), B DeChambeau (US)
+2; S Garcia (Spa), T Hatton (Eng), P Harrington (Ire)

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