Scottie Scheffler has complimented Wyndham Clark’s game after playing together in the final round at the US Open.
He was paired with Clark in the final group on Sunday, even though he was six strokes behind with 18 holes to play.
Many expected Scheffler to catch his playing partner, but he held on to win his second US Open title in four years.
Having watched Clark’s performance up close, the world number one has identified which part of his game is overlooked.
What part of Wyndham Clark’s game does Scottie Scheffler believe is underrated?
Although he was one of the best players in the field from tee to green, Wyndham Clark excelled in another area at the US Open.
Whenever he found himself in trouble, whether it was the bunkers or the rough, Clark appeared to get up and down.
The 32-year-old’s putting was outstanding throughout the week, saving him from making a lot of bogeys.
Scheffler explained that Clark’s scrambling does not get the credit that he deserves after playing alongside him on Sunday.
“Winning major championships is extremely difficult,” Scheffler said. “As you saw today, Wyndham started with a six-shot lead. It’s just hard. It’s a hard golf course. It’s hard to win these golf tournaments.
“He had some stones down the stretch. He showed kind of what he’s made of there with a great birdie there on 16. He was in some trouble off the tee.
How did you feel about the New York crowd's treatment of Wyndham Clark?
“Wyndham has a pretty good… I don’t know if “escapability” is the right word, but he’s a very underrated scrambler. I think you saw a lot of that today in some of the spots where he was and able to make pars from.
“At the end of the day, I was trying to move my way up the leaderboard. I had belief that if Wyndham shot even-par today, I could catch him. It’s just a matter of executing the shots. As I said, I was close today, but not where it needed to be.”
Clark’s chipping and putting were probably the biggest reason he won his second US Open at Shinnecock Hills.
Especially on Sunday, he managed to overcome some poor tee shots and tricky lies with his world-class short game.
Scottie Scheffler was not thinking about career Grand Slam during US Open
The crowd was fully on Scheffler’s side during the final round, partly because he was aiming for the career Grand Slam.
It would have been truly amazing to see him achieve that momentous feat on his first attempt, but it was not to be this time.
Scheffler admitted that he was only focused on competing with Clark and winning the golf tournament this weekend.
“Not while I’m on the course,” he replied. “I think when you’re in competition, you’re just trying to compete. I felt at peace all day today. I was in a good spot mentally, which was nice.
“It was good to be kind of back in the arena. I felt like, at times this year, I was on the outside looking in. I felt like I had given up too many shots early in the week.
“The positions I put myself in the last couple of years, I was in the final group, in the lead, holding leads after 54 holes, 36 holes. This year, I haven’t had many 36-hole leads. I haven’t had any 54-hole leads.
“This week will be another example where you could chalk it up to the first round. I think maybe I lost by four shots or something like that. Wyndham went out late in the day on Thursday and shot 6-under to my 2-over in the morning. That’s eight shots right there.”
As the world number one mentioned, his slow starts have already created a lot of problems for him this season.
Scheffler cannot afford to fall eight strokes behind the leaders on day one of the Open Championship if he wants to defend his title.
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