US Open golf: Ryan Fox finishes inside top 50 as Wyndham Clark holds off Rory McIlroy to claim title

Ryan Fox in action at the Los Angeles Country Club. Photo / AP

Kiwi golfer Ryan Fox went backwards on the final day at the US Open as Wyndham Clark claimed his first major at the Los Angeles Country Club.

Starting the day at one-over, Fox shot a four-over 74 on his final round to move back to a share of 43rd at five-over.

It is the third straight major that he has finished inside the top 50 following a tie for 26th at the Masters and a share of 23rd at the PGA Championship.

Fox started the final round with a bogey at the second hole before making his first birdie of the day at the par five eighth.

Unfortunately that was followed by a bogey at the next hole, the par four ninth. Fox started the back nine with bogey-birdie before his hopes of moving into the top 20 were shot with a double bogey six at the par four 12th.

He’ll earn around US$72,689 (NZ$116,600) for finishing in 43rd place.

Clark always carried the message from his late mother to “play big”. Nothing was bigger when he held off Rory McIlroy with one clutch shot after another to become a US Open champion.

Wyndham Clark holds the holds the US Open trophy. Photo / AP

The final act was two putts from 60 feet away on the 18th hole, and the 29-year-old Clark pumped his fist when it settled a foot away. He tapped that in for an even-par 70 and a one-shot victory over McIlroy and so many other stars.

Scottie Scheffler, the No 1 player in the world, couldn’t catch him. Neither could British Open champion Cameron Smith or Rickie Fowler, who played in the final group for the third time in a major and watched an exquisite performance by Clark, playing for the third time on the weekend in a major.

Clark let loose his emotions at the end, looking to the blue sky in tears and covering his face with his cap as he sobbed on the green.

He thought about quitting golf when he struggled 10 years ago with his mother, Lise, dying of breast cancer. He didn’t qualify for the the majors until two years ago. And now he has two victories in six weeks, with more big moments to come.

For McIlroy, it was more major disappointment. He opened with a birdie and didn’t make another one the rest of the day. He hung around when Clark began to falter, though McIlroy missed fairways and couldn’t buy a putt, similar to the British Open last summer at St Andrews. He closed with a 70.

- with AP