Entering the final round of the 2023 US Open, the leaderboard is full of big names. Rory McIlroy will play alongside Scotty Scheffler in Sunday’s final. They will come before Rickie Fowler and the surprise of the tournament, Wyndham Clarke.
Clark met with the media to discuss his round after posting his third straight round of 60s at the Los Angeles Country Club. While he was happy with the way he played Saturday, he couldn’t help but blow the USGA away.
“It was a little ridiculous that we got out late. I’d say right around 15 or 16 on the hole, it started to go where you couldn’t see very well… We played twilight golf… I think 100 percent I couldn’t see my bogey on 17, I think. Ricky’s bogey. “It was at 18 because he couldn’t see,” Clark said with frustration.
Clark and Fowler weren’t scheduled to tee off until 6:45pm ET and didn’t finish until approximately 11pm ET. Looks like he has a point.
“It was definitely a challenge. 17 and 18…I couldn’t really see, and we just felt and played how Ricky’s putt came, and then my putt on 18, same thing.
The first group did not depart until noon on the east coast. They could have easily moved those tee times and eliminated this problem.
“It’s crazy to think that two hours ago we’re doing that in the last two holes of a major. I hope we don’t have that problem tomorrow. Tell us what you really think, Windom.
“Obviously Ricky and I had a slight disadvantage playing the last two holes in the dark… I’ve never actually played a final round in any tournament in the dark.”
And if you’re wondering why Clark or Fowler didn’t call that out, he addressed that, too.
“Honestly, if we both wanted to use the green, we both could have called it, hey, I can’t see it, we’ll play tomorrow, and I think it’s going to be pretty bad on both sides of it.”
Again, he was right. It would have been a black eye for the USGA if it hadn’t been completed in time before dark. Not when you have hours to play in the morning. But it may have created a perception among some fans that golfers themselves are the ones to tackle.
Interestingly, Wyndham Clark wasn’t the only golfer to criticize the USGA this week. Brooks Koepka, Viktor Hovland and reigning US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick have all expressed displeasure for one reason or another.
Tee times for Sunday have been released, and the USGA has actually moved them up by more than an hour.
Clark and Fowler will tip off at 5:30 p.m. ET. They share the 54-hole lead at 10-under par. McIlroy is one shot back and Scheffler trails three back. Buckle up, it should be a fun ride.
