Rich Beem believes that Scottie Scheffler has no chance of catching Wyndham Clark and winning the US Open at Shinnecock Hills unless he can produce a round of 68 or better on Sunday.
Clark seems to be in complete control at the US Open. The 32-year-old has a six-shot lead with 18 holes to play, despite making a bogey on the 18th on Saturday.
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The lead looks to be too commanding for anyone to have a realistic chance of stopping him winning a second major title. However, there is reason for those hoping to see some drama to be ever so slightly hopeful.
Wyndham Clark has the opportunity to shut the door on his potential rivals at the US Open
Scottie Scheffler will join Wyndham Clark in the final group on Sunday. The world number one was one of just two players who managed to break par in the third round in New York.
He has got plenty of work to do, particularly if Clark continues to putt as well as he has done over the first three days. He has gained more than two shots per round on the greens this week, according to Data Golf.
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And speaking on Sky Sports, Rich Beem suggested that Clark can shut the door on his rivals with his putter.
Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
“You have to think at some point in time if those putts stop going in it’s not going to be that simple for him going forward,” he said.
“Now six strokes is a bunch but I still think he has got to get past Shinnecock and the nerves. The chasing pack has to produce. Scottie Scheffler has to produce.
“I think they are going to push this golf course a little more tomorrow. The weather seems pretty set fair, not nearly as strong winds.
“I think they will let the greens bake out a little more and speed them up a little more. If he continues to putt like this he’s untouchable.”
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What Scottie Scheffler needs to shoot on Sunday at Shinnecock Hills to stand any chance
If it was almost anyone else but Scheffler alongside Clark in the final group, you would be tempted to write off the last day as little more than a procession.
If there is an early swing in Scheffler’s favour, the pressure will ramp up on Clark.
However, it is imperative that Scheffler does not make any significant mistakes. In fact, Beem believes that the four-time major champion is going to want the course to be playing at its toughest.
He also suggested that Scheffler is probably going to need his best round of the week.
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“100 per cent. That’s the only way they have an opportunity [if the course is playing tough]. If Wyndham Clark falters a little bit, he is not showing any reason why it might, but Scottie has to go out there and produce a fairly flawless round of golf,” he said.
“I would like to believe he has to be thinking 68 at the worst to have a shot, but if Wyndham continues to putt and have such an efficient short game, it’s game, set and match. Let’s give him the trophy.”
The neutrals will certainly hope for some twists and turns over the final day. It would be a shame for the tournament as a spectacle if Clark was able to coast across the line.
And while Beem does still think that he will emerge victorious, he did predict it will not necessarily be as easy as some are expecting.
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“I still think that Wyndham Clark will win. But I promise there is going to be some drama tomorrow afternoon, there will be, there has to be,” he said.
All of the pressure is very much on Clark heading into Sunday.
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