Wyndham Clark entered the clubhouse Saturday evening with a six-shot lead at the 2026 U.S. Open after an even-par 70, and addressed the lack of crowd energy at Shinnecock Hills during the final groups.
The grandstands were half-full for the closing groups on Saturday. The final pairing of Clark and Matt Fitzpatrick did not tee off until 3:45 p.m., a decision made to showcase Shinnecock at sunset for television.
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The USGA sold fewer tickets to this year’s U.S. Open than past editions at the course, including the 2018 championship, a move the organization made purposefully given Shinnecock’s remote location in the Hamptons and the logistical challenges of only one main road out to the course. The Athletic reported the USGA is leaving millions on the table as a result.
“Yeah, it was kind of unfortunate that we’re finishing in the dark and people weren’t really out there because there were some obviously key, big moments, and it did kind of get a little flat,” Clark said. “Hopefully tomorrow there’s a bunch of fans and stuff, but for me, it’s still really important, and I still felt the moment. It’s just maybe unfortunate that there weren’t all the people there.”
Clark said he is a player who feeds off crowd energy, and that the empty grandstands made it difficult to stay focused down the stretch, where he made two late bogeys.
“I love making a big putt and feeling that or hitting a good shot and getting the claps. So it was unfortunate it got a little flat,” Clark said. “Also, because of that, sometimes it made it tough to stay really focused because it seemed like everyone was leaving, and it was like the tournament was over, and I had to keep myself really focused and in the present. I didn’t do my best job; I made kind of two poor bogeys coming in. Hopefully there’s people there tomorrow and it’s a great atmosphere.”
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When asked if he had ever seen so few fans at a major on a Saturday, Clark said the situation was not entirely unfamiliar.
“Yeah, actually I can when I was in, like, 50th place or something. It’s a little unfortunate. I don’t know if it’s because we finished so late or what, but it’s OK. I am still excited to be where I’m at, and I’m not really focusing on that part.”
The grandstands behind the 18th green were intentionally built smaller this year, per The Fried Egg, following discussions between the USGA and Shinnecock Hills about preserving the fescue aesthetic around the finishing hole.
Clark tees off Sunday in the final pairing alongside world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who sits six shots back after a 1-under 69 on Saturday.
