A trophy ceremony usually belongs to the champion alone, but this time on Sunday at Shinnecock Hills, Wyndham Clark shared his moment with the man who nearly didn't get to see it.

Clark won his second U.S. Open title Sunday, closing with a 3-over 73 for a one-shot victory over Sam Burns. On the 18th green, his father, Randall, surprised him in a moment captured by the PGA Tour.

The PGA Tour shared the emotional story on X, saying that Clark's father, Randall, had open-heart surgery two years ago. The experience changed the way the family looked at life and made Sunday's celebration even more special.

Clark's journey to that moment on the 18th green was far from easy.

He carried a six-shot lead into the final round, only to see it shrink to one shot after seven holes. The collapse put him on the edge of the largest blown lead in U.S. Open history before he steadied himself.

The turning point came on the par-5 16th. Clark hit one of his worst drives of the day, escaped a bunker, and watched his 8-iron barely hold the back of the green. He then rolled in a 30-foot birdie putt for a two-shot cushion with two holes remaining.

That shot secured the lead his father would soon celebrate with him on the 18th.

Wyndham Clark win caps a yearlong turnaround

A year ago, Clark threw a driver at the PGA Championship and smashed a locker at Oakmont after missing the U.S. Open cut, conduct that got him banned from the club until he made amends.

He addressed that history directly at the trophy ceremony. "New York didn't really like me — I love you guys," Clark said. "But I get it. Some of it's self-deserved. I did some unfortunate things last year that I really regret, and I've been sorry multiple times, and I'm still sorry, so hopefully I can win you guys over eventually."

Clark was ranked No. 75 in the world and winless for two years before a final-round 60 at The CJ Cup Byron Nelson sparked a rise in his world rankings.

He became the first wire-to-wire U.S. Open winner since Martin Kaymer in 2014, finishing at 4-under 276, his second major title in four years, and his first with his father watching from just off the green.

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Written by

Sneha Abraham

Edited by

Pulkit Prabhav