Not even Shinnecock Hills and its strongest test of the week in the U.S. Open could match the toughness of Wyndham Clark on Saturday.Clark had a collection of par saves around the turn as Scottie Scheffler was making a move and poured it on with a 3-wood to 4 feet for eagle on the par-5 16th, leading to an even-par 70 that gave him a six-shot lead going into the final round.Riding shotgun with him will be Scheffler, who finally got on track by making three straight birdies, shooting 32 on the back nine and at least keeping alive hope of a career Grand Slam.But its a big mountain to climb. No one has ever lost more than a five-shot lead in 125 previous editions of golf's toughest test. Greg Norman in the 1996 Masters is the only player to lose a six-shot lead in any major.It's all in Wyndham's hands, really, said Xander Schauffele, who faded with a pair of double bogeys on the back nine. If he plays a really solid round of golf tomorrow if he shoots even par or 1 over or 2 over he's going to win the golf tournaments. That's how I think it's going to pan out.Shinnecock Hills did its part, even after the strongest wind subsided. Only two players managed to break par in the third round Emiliano Grillo in 30 mph wind in the morning before the leaders teed off, and Scheffler late in the afternoon with a 69.Clark nearly joined them. After all his great saves, he missed a 5-foot par putt on the final hole and finished at 7-under 203, the lowest 54-hole score ever at Shinnecock Hills.I'm pretty satisfied with 70, Clark said, though he sure didn't sound like it at times. From thick rough right of the 18th fairway, his wedge went right and some 60 feet away from the pin.Gosh, Ive hit some terrible shots today. This is ridiculous," Clark said. He was leading by seven shots at the time, though he did put himself in some tough spots 75 feet away on the downwind ninth, over the back of the green and down the slope on the 10th, a bunker on the scary par-3 11th.He made par putts of 7 feet, 5 feet and 6 feet. And when he got in trouble on the 13th after trying to drive the green, he made a 15-foot putt for par. It was like that all day. And the lead kept growing, even with that short miss at the end.The only way that you catch somebody like Wyndham is the golf course starts to win against him, Keith Mitchell said after his third successive round at 70. He joined Clark as the only player at par or better three straight rounds, and Mitchell was eight shots behind.Clark went from scrambling to soaring with one shot. He was 275 yards away on the 604-yard 16th hole, with helping wind that made it a perfect 5-wood except he didn't have one in his bag. His caddie suggested taking a little off a 3-wood, and he played a high cut to perfection, getting a nice bounce short of the green as the ball rolled out to 4 feet.It was the only eagle on the 16th hole all week.Really one of the shots of the tournament, Clark said.He now has one more round to add another U.S. Open title to the one he captured at Los Angeles Country Club in 2023. At his side will be Scheffler, the No. 1 player in the world, trying to turn Sunday into a most magical day.At stake for Scheffler is a chance a long shot at that to get the final leg of the career Grand Slam on Father's Day, which also happens to be his 30th birthday.There's a lot of stuff going on, Scheffler said with a smile in his interview with NBC. A special day. The tournament means a lot to me. Going to go out there and try to do my best and execute. I've been fighting like heck all week to stay in this tournament.NBC host Mike Tirico jokingly pointed out that he did not ask about the Grand Slam.I think we're all aware, Scheffler said with a grin.He said later in a press conference: I think its appropriate to understand whats at stake. ... We want to be in these positions. This is why we practice and play, to have the opportunity to win golf tournaments, and thats what tomorrow is.Scheffler, who fell nine shots behind with a pair of bogeys at the start, shot 32 on the back nine by chipping in from 65 feet on the 14th for the start of his three straight birdies. His one big lament was missing a 4-foot birdie putt on the final hole.He moved into the last group when Shinnecock Hills did a number on everyone else. Sam Stevens, who closed within two shots of Clark on the front, started the back nine with three straight bogeys and closed with six straight pars for a 72. Tom Kim dropped two shots at the wrong time and shot 72. Sahith Theegala had one birdie, one bogey and 16 pars for a 70. That usually works at any U.S. Open, particularly this one.All of them were at 1-under 209, leaving only five players under par.Rory McIlroy was there, but only briefly. He made three straight birdies, including a putter from off the sixth green from 66 feet, and at one point only had one player between him and Clark. But just like the previous round, he lost ground with a series of mistakes and shot 73 to fall 10 behind. He left Shinnecock without speaking.___AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Not even Shinnecock Hills and its strongest test of the week in the U.S. Open could match the toughness of Wyndham Clark on Saturday.Clark had a collection of par saves around the turn as Scottie Scheffler was making a move and poured it on with a 3-wood to 4 feet for eagle on the par-5 16th, leading to an even-par 70 that gave him a six-shot lead going into the final round.Riding shotgun with him will be Scheffler, who finally got on track by making three straight birdies, shooting 32 on the back nine and at least keeping alive hope of a career Grand Slam.But its a big mountain to climb. No one has ever lost more than a five-shot lead in 125 previous editions of golf's toughest test. Greg Norman in the 1996 Masters is the only player to lose a six-shot lead in any major.It's all in Wyndham's hands, really, said Xander Schauffele, who faded with a pair of double bogeys on the back nine. If he plays a really solid round of golf tomorrow if he shoots even par or 1 over or 2 over he's going to win the golf tournaments. That's how I think it's going to pan out.Shinnecock Hills did its part, even after the strongest wind subsided. Only two players managed to break par in the third round Emiliano Grillo in 30 mph wind in the morning before the leaders teed off, and Scheffler late in the afternoon with a 69.Clark nearly joined them. After all his great saves, he missed a 5-foot par putt on the final hole and finished at 7-under 203, the lowest 54-hole score ever at Shinnecock Hills.I'm pretty satisfied with 70, Clark said, though he sure didn't sound like it at times. From thick rough right of the 18th fairway, his wedge went right and some 60 feet away from the pin.Gosh, Ive hit some terrible shots today. This is ridiculous," Clark said. He was leading by seven shots at the time, though he did put himself in some tough spots 75 feet away on the downwind ninth, over the back of the green and down the slope on the 10th, a bunker on the scary par-3 11th.He made par putts of 7 feet, 5 feet and 6 feet. And when he got in trouble on the 13th after trying to drive the green, he made a 15-foot putt for par. It was like that all day. And the lead kept growing, even with that short miss at the end.The only way that you catch somebody like Wyndham is the golf course starts to win against him, Keith Mitchell said after his third successive round at 70. He joined Clark as the only player at par or better three straight rounds, and Mitchell was eight shots behind.Clark went from scrambling to soaring with one shot. He was 275 yards away on the 604-yard 16th hole, with helping wind that made it a perfect 5-wood except he didn't have one in his bag. His caddie suggested taking a little off a 3-wood, and he played a high cut to perfection, getting a nice bounce short of the green as the ball rolled out to 4 feet.It was the only eagle on the 16th hole all week.Really one of the shots of the tournament, Clark said.He now has one more round to add another U.S. Open title to the one he captured at Los Angeles Country Club in 2023. At his side will be Scheffler, the No. 1 player in the world, trying to turn Sunday into a most magical day.At stake for Scheffler is a chance a long shot at that to get the final leg of the career Grand Slam on Father's Day, which also happens to be his 30th birthday.There's a lot of stuff going on, Scheffler said with a smile in his interview with NBC. A special day. The tournament means a lot to me. Going to go out there and try to do my best and execute. I've been fighting like heck all week to stay in this tournament.NBC host Mike Tirico jokingly pointed out that he did not ask about the Grand Slam.I think we're all aware, Scheffler said with a grin.He said later in a press conference: I think its appropriate to understand whats at stake. ... We want to be in these positions. This is why we practice and play, to have the opportunity to win golf tournaments, and thats what tomorrow is.Scheffler, who fell nine shots behind with a pair of bogeys at the start, shot 32 on the back nine by chipping in from 65 feet on the 14th for the start of his three straight birdies. His one big lament was missing a 4-foot birdie putt on the final hole.He moved into the last group when Shinnecock Hills did a number on everyone else. Sam Stevens, who closed within two shots of Clark on the front, started the back nine with three straight bogeys and closed with six straight pars for a 72. Tom Kim dropped two shots at the wrong time and shot 72. Sahith Theegala had one birdie, one bogey and 16 pars for a 70. That usually works at any U.S. Open, particularly this one.All of them were at 1-under 209, leaving only five players under par.Rory McIlroy was there, but only briefly. He made three straight birdies, including a putter from off the sixth green from 66 feet, and at one point only had one player between him and Clark. But just like the previous round, he lost ground with a series of mistakes and shot 73 to fall 10 behind. He left Shinnecock without speaking.___AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

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Shubman Gill captained India to a commanding 3-0 ODI series victory against Afghanistan, marking his first series win as skipper. The young batsman also shone with the bat, finishing as the highest run-scorer with 238 runs and earning Player of the Series. Gill praised his team's execution and highlighted the upcoming England series as crucial preparation for the 2027 World Cup.

Rben Dias has insisted that the intense scrutiny focused on captain Cristiano Ronaldo is nothing out of the ordinary for the national team. The Manchester City center-back has called for unity within the squad after their disappointing opening World Cup draw, emphasizing that outside noise will not derail their ultimate tournament ambitions. Opening Stalemate Sparks Scrutiny The Seleo endured a frustrating start to their Group K campaign after being held to a 1-1 draw by DR Congo in Kansas City. Despite Joao Neves heading the favorites into an early lead, the European giants lacked a clinical edge and allowed Yoane Wissa to equalize just before halftime. The result immediately prompted widespread criticism from fans and former players, with much of the post-match frustration targeting their 41-year-old skipper following an inefficient attacking display. Defender Dismisses Outside Noise Speaking ahead of their next match, Dias calmly addressed the media backlash surrounding the squad's performance and their talismanic striker. He stated: "The criticism isn't directed at just one player. Cris is a major focus, but everyone is under scrutiny at a moment like this. I don't think anything out of the ordinary is happening; it has been this way ever since Ive been here, it will continue to be, so it's nothing new." When questioned further about the external opinions circulating on social media platforms, he added: "Honestly, all the speculation... its a non-issue. Were all united around a dream, and my mind doesn't wander there. It appears on social media, but we dont pay attention to it and I dont feel its a topic I need to address." Squad Reacts To Tactical Breakdown The veteran forward set a historical milestone as the oldest outfield player to start in a World Cup match, though he extended a frustrating ten-game tournament goal drought. Reflecting on the tactical errors that allowed the African nation back into the contest, the team acknowledged a drop in intensity. Dias explained: "Now there are so many analysts talking about the game and drawing conclusions about what went wrong, that in some publications people have already realized what didn't go so well. "We scored early and started the game well, you could feel that energy at that moment, but we ended up relaxing and losing our discipline. That made us less efficient, we failed to put the fear into them that we needed to, and the game fell into a strange dynamic. "We ultimately lost our discipline, and we are well aware of that among ourselves. I only see positive things moving forward." He concluded regarding the escalating scale of the public reaction: "I haven't seen much of what was said. I haven't seen major criticisms, but when results aren't the most positive, its natural for it to triple. "However, that doesn't shake our confidence. The sooner the difficulties arrive, the better; we have to have the ability to keep growing, and I don't expect perfect scenarios. The most important thing is keeping our feet firmly on the ground." Crucial Response Required In Houston Roberto Martinez's star-studded side must quickly reconstruct their defensive discipline ahead of a crucial fixture against tournament debutants Uzbekistan on Tuesday. The upcoming clash represents an immediate test of character for the under-fire squad as they look to kickstart their Group K campaign. Securing three points remains vital to keeping their qualification ambitions intact before their final group stage meeting with South American heavyweights Colombia.

Moving Day at the 126th U.S. Open saw one man move further away from the field.After opening the week with rounds of 64 and 69, Wyndham Clark posted an even-par 70 Saturday at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York, putting himself in rarified air among the history books of golf's toughest test. His six-shot lead is the fourth-largest 54-hole cushion ever at a U.S. Open, behind only Jim Barnes in 1921, Rory McIlroy in 2011 and, of course, Tiger Woods at Pebble Beach in 2000, who led by 10 after three rounds before going on to win by 12.Clark displayed almost superhuman mettle on a Saturday that had all the makings of a typical carnage-laden round at the U.S. Open a firm golf course, fast greens and brutal wind gusts upwards of 40 mph. That perilous combination ate up some players, like Dylan Wu, who five-putted the first hole en route to a 12-over 82, or Russell Henley, who failed to make a birdie and shot 10-over 80, or Rory McIlroy, who erased a stretch of three straight birdies on the front nine with five bogeys on the second side, ultimately turning in a 3-over 73.But not Clark. No, he scrambled like a madman, making clutch par save after clutch par save before stepping up to his second shot on the par-5 16th, where he launched a fairway wood into the picturesque Long Island sky with a cut that judging by the television ball tracer looked like the type of slice you'd see a 20 handicap hit off the first tee at a local muni before insisting he take a breakfast ball. But Clark isn't that guy. The wind held his ball up just enough for it to land a few paces in front of the green, kick over the edge of the bunker and roll within four feet of the pin. He converted the eagle and walked to the 17th tee at 8 under, seven shots clear of the field."I wasn't trying to go right at the flag," Clark said. "We knew as long as we were left of the flag, we'd have a chance to get up-and-down. We saw, I think it was Sam Stevens, in that bunker. He hit a good shot, or at least held the green, so we knew left was a good miss, right was going to be hard to get up-and-down. I must say that it went farther right than I wanted. I thought the wind would hold it up a touch more, but I'm not complaining. It was a great outcome."WYNDHAM CLARK YOU ARE RIDICULOUS!A huge fade to a few feet from 275!That left for eagle. pic.twitter.com/0RilsBicgr U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 20, 2026Every golf tournament has shots that define it, and it goes without saying that if Clark holds on to win, his second shot into the 16th in the third round will be one of, if not the signature shot from the 2026 U.S. Open. But not every shot Clark hit Saturday looked as good as that one."It was very up and down, holy smokes," Clark said. "I hit some good shots, I hit some terrible shots."He sure did, but it rarely mattered, because he followed up nearly every terrible shot with an excellent one, escaping trouble on numerous occasions with impeccable touch around the greens and exceptional fortitude standing over the nervy putts that pros so often miss when the pressure ramps up at a major championship. In all, he made over 50 feet in par putts alone. One of the few he didn't make came at the 18th a bogey that cut his lead from seven to six. "I mean, [the par saves] are huge," Clark said. "That's what you have to make to win U.S. Opens. You're not going to have too many birdie putts, and when you do miss, it's really hard to hit a gimme, so you've got to make those kind of 5- to 12-footers."Stop us if you've heard this one before.Wyndham Clark finds some trouble, scrambles, and makes *another* clutch par putt. pic.twitter.com/hPMR7Aa5I5 U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 20, 2026Clark's current standing is even more incredible when juxtaposed with where he was a year ago, making headlines for damaging lockers inside the clubhouse at Oakmont after shooting a pair of 74s and missing the cut by one shot. He's put that behind him, though, as have the Oakmont brass, and one year later, he's on the doorstep of a second major title after distancing himself from the field Saturday."My mindset was good," Clark said. "The course changed so much. It was very soft [on Thursday and Friday] and easier to be more aggressive. The fairways got rock hard, so I was spinning my irons a little bit more, and I had some squirt to the right. The greens were bouncing a ton. That little adjustment, maybe I didn't make as quick as I would have liked. But knowing tomorrow it's going to be like that, I can prepare for it."But yeah, if I can go out there and try to hit a lot of fairways, it would be a dream to hit 18 greens. That's kind of my goal is to just get as many looks as I can with how I'm putting, and hopefully I'm hoisting the trophy tomorrow."To hoist that trophy he'll need to hold off some of the game's biggest stars, including the biggest of stars, who he'll be playing alongside. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler made four birdies on the back nine Saturday to play himself into Sunday's final pairing. He's still six shots off the lead, but he'll be in full chase mode as he looks to complete a monumental comeback to secure the career Grand Slam."I think it's appropriate to understand what's at stake," Scheffler said. "I've worked really hard for a long time to have a chance to win golf tournaments and to win major championships. I think understanding the moment and giving it your best shot I think is all part of the process."We want to be in these positions. This is why we practice and play, to have the opportunity to win golf tournaments, and that's what tomorrow is. I have an opportunity to go out there and have a great round and give myself a chance to win the tournament . . . I'll need a really nice round tomorrow if I'm going to try and catch Wyndham."Clark, meanwhile, understands the challenge he faces, regardless of the massive lead he's built. "Scottie is the best player in the world and he's going to play probably really good he always does," Clark said. "But it's nice to have a six-shot lead on him. But really, I'm just going to keep approaching it the same way. If I go out and execute and go through my process and hit the shots I know I can hit, I like my chances."Nick Stavasis a digital producer and commerce writer for Golfweek. Follow him on X/Twitter (@nickstavas).This article originally appeared on Golfweek: US Open 2026: Wyndham Clark on doorstep of second major title