It’s been a great couple of weeks for former OSU professional golfers. Just 2 weeks ago, Viktor Hovland picked up his 4th PGA victory after winning the Memorial Tournament in Ohio. However, things didn’t come so easy for Hovland this week at the LA Country Club as Hovland scrapped and clawed his way to finish the weekend at even par. Hovland finished the weekend with a 2-over 72 on Sunday. But it was another former OSU Cowboy who stole the show as Wyndham Clark held off a star studded leader board to claim his first career major victory and just his 2nd career win on the PGA Tour.
Clark played a majority of his college career in Stillwater from 2012 to 2016. For most, that would be his entire career (since it was 4 years). However, Clark was working on a business degree and needed an extra year of school. During his final year in college, Clark transferred to Oregon in 2017 where he would graduate with that business degree. Clark became a pro in 2018 and came close to winning on the Tour back in 2020 where he finished 2nd at the Bermuda Championship. As mentioned before, we’re about a month removed from Clark claiming his first PGA Tour win as he captured the title at the Wells Fargo Championship. Now, Clark is on top of the golf world as he claimed his 1st Major victory with the win yesterday at LACC.
Clark was masterful on Thursday and Friday which put him right in contention with some of the biggest names in the sport. Clark shot a 6-under 64 and a 3-under 67 to put him at 9-under-par going into the weekend. The weekend was not very kind to a number of great golfers as many struggled to reach or get under par (which was 70 at LACC) on Saturday and Sunday. Clark shot a 1-under 69 on Saturday which gave him the lead going into the final round, tied with Ricky Fowler and 1 shot ahead of Rory McIlroy. The stage was set for Clark.
Sunday was probably the toughest day at LACC as less than 20 golfers managed to go under-par on the day. Fowler struggled all day and finished with a 75 which cleared the way for Clark and McIlroy. A two horse race for golf’s 3rd major of the season. It was a race that was anything but easy. Clark never surrendered the lead, however, Rory had plenty of opportunities to take the title away to win his first major since 2014. On the back 9, Clark was scrambling all over the place trying to clean up after some poor shots. It appeared that the pressure was getting to Clark and this would finally be Rory’s chance. However, Rory could putt to save his life and missed a number of birdie opportunities to tie Clark. Clark would clean up his messes and get away with a par or even just a bogey and managed to stay on top the entire way.
The win gives Clark his first major win of his career and propels him to #13 on the World Golf Rankings. Clark sat at #293 just 1 year ago on those very same rankings. C
