2026 U.S. Open highlights: Third round at Shinnecock
Extended highlights from a difficult third round in the 126th U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills in Southampton, New York.
Video Transcript
The weekend at Shinnecock Hills and getting closer to crowning the sixth US Open champion here, and we're just about 45 minutes away from the final pair in this third round to help decide that latest champion.
Both have won it before, so they're no strangers to US Open pressure on the weekend.
Matt Fitzpatrick in 2022 at the country club coming into this one on a heater.
Three wins, and also a runner-up just last week in Canada.
He trails Wyndham Clark by four shots.
Clark, the winner at LACC, Los Angeles Country Club, the following year after Fitzpatrick won his.
Rounds of 64 and 69.
7 under through two rounds, and that is the lowest 36-hole total in the history of US Opens at Shinnecock.
Fifth.
Back up the hill.
Can be aggressive.
Yeah, there we go.
Finally gets one in.
His first eagle in a US Open since 2023.
What a tough hole location here.
Way back on the top of this highest part of the green.
Always taking it on.
That's an aggressive shot.
Stay out.
Okay.
I thought it was just gonna sneak away there.
What a front nine.
3 under par.
I feel like he's trying to land this just short as well.
Felt a little wind shift.
That's when he backed off.
He wants back into it with the comfortable wind.
A mile in the air on a good line at the center, left center of the green.
He likes it.
Take that last hop.
Not quite, is it?
And not gonna stay.
Trying to make a run today.
Get in position to be in contention come the final round tomorrow.
This third here at the par five.
Straight up that straight, steep bank, and then moving to his left once it's up top.
It's just really hard to judge the pace of that.
He's had some long putts back on the second and the third.
Just getting here as an alternate to five.
And McIlroy for birdie.
Okay.
Yeah, he's owned this hole.
Hitting that fairway that far.
A save at the first.
Oh, you know, when you haven't played that well off of these, become very challenging days.
Some of these greens- Matt McNeely reached in two.
This for eagle at five.
Well, he hit it hard enough.
Similar line to Scheffler's.
But that was a fairly aggressive- Easy.
11 feet of break from right to left.
Probably add a little more with the wind.
About that much.
Pop up.
Perfection.
That had the huge break.
So much going on, and McIlroy gauged it right on the money.
That was amazing.
That was tracking the whole way.
That's two in a row, too.
Yeah, John Wood called it about that much, right as it was going in.
66 feet away to get within a half dozen now.
Look how far out to the right it is here, and it takes a huge apex turn to the left and just lines up right in the middle of the flagstick.
And Chez, these are the kinds of putts that can end a championship.
Made as softly as possible.
Get in the hole!
It's on a really good line, just right of the hole.
Is it gonna stay?
All he'd want it to do is stop.
Yeah, you're not It doesn't have to This could be a little bit slower putt, but can get away a little if you get low.
Back in the hole.
Cracks that hill.
He doesn't have a lot of structure.
He just kind of hits putts around and just kind of gets used to the speed.
Stevens on the way for birdie at one.
Yeah.
Second-closest approach today at the first.
This right of the flag.
And this is gonna end up in a really tough spot.
It comes back down the hill, trying to hang on.
Kind of looks like Xander Shaw from like before.
It won't be too bad, but not his best swing to start his round.
But just to the right enough where you catch that ridge.
Go, Chris.
Looking to hit a jumper with a wedge here.
This ball is left of where he wants it.
Oh.
That rough just tried lead tape into Home Depot.
Little more than two and a half feet of break.
This, his speed will be the challenge here.
Up the hill, turning left the entire way.
Ooh, that's a poor putt.
Half.
At least Xander got it closer to the hole than that.
Quite a bit.
Oh.
Well, finally eight feet for par.
Oh.
Oh, there's Yep.
You know, usually you make a par putt on the first hole, it's a, it's a huge psychological boost.
We'll see how he recovers.
Hitting a real low one, trying to run something up on the green Little lower eight next Yeah, this could f- trundle back off the green.
Never really had the authority on that putt up the hill.
Ran out of steam quickly Left-hand low for Mitchell here for birdie.
And you saw that beautiful approach there.
That's the way to play that hole.
How delicate was that?
That's really good.
If you want to become a good putter, just watch this guy's approach, watch his routine.
And you start going towards the hole, and before it's halfway there he knew it was in.
Getting closer and closer at the US Open, and maybe this year- Look at this.
It's Patrick.
Can't tell if it's blowing or not down there.
Very poor angle here for Matt, but he tried to take on that left bunker and it did not work out.
That's just where Schauffele was before he- At the 10th, this is Scheffler for birdie, trying to get it cranked up.
Get in, Scotty.
Yeah!
First birdie of the day for Scheffler.
He went out in plus 237, so he's back to plus one.
This for par.
Taking no time over it.
And another one missed on that left side.
That had a lot of pace, too.
He's not done.
Oh!
Started bogey, bogey, bogey today.
Gets two of them back here at five.
Coming through in Houston, trying to stay in contention- at another US Open.
Yeah, I spoke to him this morning.
I said- Easiest hole on the golf course again today, the fifth, par five.
Second on the way for Schauffele.
Beautiful drive, 333 yards.
Five iron.
Trying to run it up there, and he did.
What a beautiful play there for Xander.
Got the crosswind right to left.
Yeah, Smiley, this would be a good one to make, wouldn't it?
and by the way, nice shot you hit the other day.
Old dog finds a bone every now and then.
Oh.
That'll be it.
Yeah!
Woo!
Higher than average shot, and his average.
This one needs to hang on.
Carried.
Almost caught the group in front of him.
On the cart?
Yeah.
He nailed that.
Sailed it all the way there.
Windham sitting on the lead after the first two days.
Always a challenge for a player.
It's very tough to lead a tournament, all the way through.
I've, I've been lucky enough to do it, but never in a major championship, that's for sure.
But he's done it before, so- And hit shot, hit shots like that like Bones said, it's kind of like that one he hit on two, that five iron way up in the air.
Barely moved once it hit the green, and this will be a great bounce back after his bogey there on the first, first hole, to pick up two.
That green is so exposed by the wind there.
You have to play it all the way to the green service.
Eight iron on the way for Kim.
These players have played it mostly into the wind.
Yes.
This wind helping right to left.
Oh, look at this.
Got a chance.
Oh.
Oh.
You could hear him say "One time" right around this area in practice and the tournament.
Let's go, Kim!
Waiting for something to happen, and it just did.
That was the Rory herb just a little while ago, and Scheffler is back at even in dramatic fashion.
Some nice emotion.
Haven't seen it from him in a while.
He's getting fired up.
Bogey, bogey start.
Got his first birdie at the 10th.
Let's go, get in.
Got his second like this.
Let's go, get in.
Big fist pump.
You have so many shots like these around the greens, and no one better at them than Scheffler, and maybe that's finally- Many balls have ended up right around this area in practice and the tournament.
Let's go, Kim!
Waiting for something to happen, and it just did.
That was the Rory herb just a little while ago, and Scheffler is back at even in dramatic fashion.
Some nice emotion.
Haven't seen it from him in a while.
He's getting fired up.
Bogey, bogey start.
Got his first birdie at the 10th.
Let's go, get in.
Got his second like this.
Let's go, get in.
Big fist pump.
You have so many shots like these around the greens.
Oh, yeah.
So many chances here, buddy.
Look out, that birdie at the last.
Yeah!
Back-to-back birdies for the first time this week for Scheffler.
And Windham Clark second Better get left.
He's gonna leave a difficult up and down.
Huge downslope he's gonna have to land that bunker shot on too.
That's the worst shot of my life.
Worst shot of his life.
Oh, no.
Just can't stop it there.
Worst putt.
And it runs away.
And away.
Absolutely the worst putt you've ever seen.
And away.
Fucking insane.
Stops there, so he's gonna- No!
Oh.
Oh.
Got it there, so we'll have that coming back.
Second at the ninth.
Stay of grinding.
Is he gonna give himself a look?
Oh, wow.
Hold on right there.
He'll have a good- Very close to have gone off the back of the green here, Fax.
This is a good look.
It's a really good look.
Most people have missed this putt from this side on the right.
Oh.
Yeah.
One more bit of roll.
Long to go, Stevens.
Pitching wedge up the hill.
That's a big drive.
Got it to the upslope, so he can take it at this flagstick with less risk.
Oh.
Hit it.
Hit it.
Here we go, Stevens.
A lot of players haven't been able to- Played a lot of great.
That was always too far out there.
And I think he's gonna try to hold this three wood up against that breeze.
Trying.
Oh.
That's good.
Looks like it's holding okay.
Oh.
Shot from Scottie Scheffler.
What a bounce by Scheffler.
And an eagle look it'll be for Scottie.
What time you got it?
Yeah.
Oh.
Nonetheless, the quest for the career grand slam has come into clear view right now.
Looking to go Sam Stevens at the 10th, with this diabolical short second.
Oh.
Better set.
Not enough breaks.
Downwind, so much going on.
The green's so elevated when it's downwind.
The only guy in this bunker today, as you can see.
No rake marks.
Oh.
Better set.
Oh.
So close to having a chance to save par, and now it's an outside shot at best.
Now you're just trying to keep the double off.
Pretty square blade.
Hooked it nice.
Still a long way away for par.
Guys, he's showed some incredible touch all day today.
I think he pulled it off.
That's about as good as you can do from there.
All day.
Argh.
See where to hit it on this tee after watching the last hour or so.
Oh, yeah.
You know, you ask the members here, because, you know, what's maybe the strategy.
A lot of, sometimes they lay it back depending on the wind, up on the hill.
You go down there and sometimes it's hard downwind.
Yeah.
Just to hit a shorter shot.
Yeah, when you're that, that far below.
Yeah, this would be a heroic sand save.
How that just died coming up that hill.
That's been the challenge- Isn't it?
from that area of the green.
Yes.
Yeah.
Flat, so yeah, you'd have to aim it out to the right and, and try to get it in that bunker.
It seems like there's no right answers.
Oh.
That U.S. Open patience will be tested for Schauffele, a double bogey at the 10th.
Taking a This needs to get down.
Joining the group.
It's like watching it on repeat.
Now Clark will be scrambling.
Bump it into the bank.
Yep.
I kind of like this play, Kiss.
Yeah.
That is a terrific shot.
It's the only way we've seen it get within 15 feet is bumping it into the hill, but you risk- Oh.
Seen all the putts from the other side of the hole peel off to the right.
See if he plays enough break.
Oh.
Nice shot.
First birdie.
Looks like a pretty good lie.
Nobody.
Nobody.
Yeah.
It all just wiggled out, but that is quite an up-and-down.
Yeah.
Yep, we've seen it short to the left Also keeping it down a little bit right of the hole.
Is it enough, club?
Hit it.
Go, go.
The answer.
Yeah, that looked like a really short swing, like he was just bunkering today.
Get up there, go.
Well, he went for it.
Go.
That stopped exactly a yard or two from going down.
And there's the green between that and- 526-yard par four.
Just having a short iron in.
Now check.
Yep.
So a couple in- This is Burns to get back into red figures.
Yeah.
Man, surprised neither one of 'em made it.
Burns especially.
It's been happening all day, Sam.
Fore, fore.
And he's got maybe just as much left coming back.
Looked for birdie on 18.
After you had all that momentum.
This is three feet, two inches coming back after the miss from three feet 10.
Go, Seve.
That was his first miss inside five feet this week, but it is a solid one under round of 69 for Shepherd, especially after starting with bogeys at one and two.
Here is Stevens a moment ago at the 12th for long range for birdie.
He's trying to avoid three bogeys in a row.
Go, Sam.
Good start for Sam, but he has been faced with the testers right now.
This is a tester on these late hole out here.
Oh.
And that's three in a row for Stevens, just like that to begin his second nine.
Look at McIlroy's position here at 18.
That is his third.
And he will most likely drop at least another one.
Tom Kim to get within four.
Second place all by himself.
A little knee bend there.
Oof.
Damn it, Todd.
Up the right side.
Stay in it.
Did not miss it left as he wanted to.
Ah.
Beyond that bunker.
Hard to tell what that lie would be like for the flagstick.
Long is his miss.
Got it.
Go.
Go, go.
This is gonna end up in that front bunker.
Oh.
It luckily carries over the rock and not down inside, so it won't bury.
Whoo!
I don't think that Nothing but net and left it hard.
Burns for the birdie.
He's been going a, a bit of the wrong way on this second nine.
Oh.
Can't believe it didn't drop in.
Let it move over to the flag.
Comfortable eight iron on the way, and this is cutting even just a little bit right of the flag.
That's a beauty.
Wow.
That's how you work through your process, Dan, with your trust back after that- This to extend the lead to a half dozen.
Boy, you couldn't have been in a better place, Mike.
Just back up the hill, moving slightly from left to right.
Yeah!
Another one.
As the winds die down, Wyndham Clark keeps I didn't think this right bunker's the good side, did you?
Oh.
Enough to be up here.
Started to believe.
Wow, sensational touch from 50 feet, a really poor second shot from Matt.
Yeah, he was muttering to himself too, like Clark was.
Did he?
Oh.
That one turned to the right at the end.
Good putt.
18, I mean, this was as good as we've seen all day.
One of the best of the week, in fact.
From 117 yards.
Had a couple chances.
He is in at one under.
Putting for par.
How difficult is this putt?
Yeah, these puts, you know, he's a US Open champ, and I think he's- It's Patrick back on the tee, and this one is headed left.
Way left.
That's a horrible drive with, with the conditions currently.
Found on their birthdays.
Good friends from the Dallas area, so all sorts of possibilities still coming home.
Now, Stan Siemens has this set up about a ball or two outside the hole on the left side.
Can't believe it broke that much.
Ball's just peeling right.
Broke over eight inches from eight feet.
Cutting now.
Hold it, Wind, hold it.
What a shot.
Oh.
He count.
Oh, goodness.
That was a huge fade.
Eagle for Clark, the first one.
Oh.
And the lead is seven.
Big left to righter.
This is 17.
To get it to two under.
It's all speed right here.
Guys aren't reaching Good approach at the flag with seven iron.
Have a lot of cut.
Right.
Oh, look.
It's head- Way left Way left.
Way left.
Double cross.
Oh.
Into the camera tower.
He's actually lucky that's there 'cause that's an awful lie.
Looking right into the sun too.
Fuck, I don't know what just happened.
What up?
Here you go.
Thank you.
Like that?
Yeah.
So Catherine, the two drops- Okay, thank you and it kept rolling- Thank you and, and eventually.
Oh.
Oh.
Just add it to the list.
Yeah, no, I mean Highlight reel of pars.
Getting it done at the US Open.
It sure is.
Less than 50 feet, five feet of pars putts.
Right, I'm sure you've seen it a time or two though, Gaz.
Yeah, we have.
It just gets down there close to the hole and bobbles around as they're hitting it with such slow pace straight down this hill.
Plays Poe Greens well.
They're the ones he grew up on at Wichita Country Club.
Oh.
He says he's pretty com- Let's go!
Let's go!
Fitzpatrick hoping to join the one-unders, but it's not gonna happen.
No questions unanswered before this one.
181 is his total.
This needs a big first bounce.
And just didn't jump quite as much as he'd hoped it would.
Didn't really jump.
Exactly what he said.
Bones, "Didn't really jump."
Gosh, I've hit some terrible shots today.
This is just ridiculous.
Well, not gonna hurry.
Yeah, just kinda lost his way with his driver today.
Hitting it well off the fairways, which is unusual for Matt.
Can we see one made though by Fitzpatrick?
Oh.
Boy, it dead online.
What a great read.
Thank you!
74 for the US Open champion from the country club.
Just one of those things that Clark said, "I like it," and they gave him an unprecedented kinda deal, and now he's gonna use it to finish off one more par save.
In the water.
Oh.
Just expected him to make it with all the ones he's made today.
Well, give the guy he's gonna be paired with tomorrow a little more hope in that final group.
A little, yep.
But it is still a huge lead of six over four other players at that.
21 players have held a 54-hole major lead of six strokes or more.
Only one of those didn't win, and a lot of people have been following golf through the years- Thanks, guys know it was Greg Norman- Thank you back in '96.
Thank you.
And that is the huge lead that Wyndham Clark will take into the championship Sunday tomorrow, Mike, in hopes of adding another US Open victory to his resume
