Amidst an exceptionally fierce storm that swept across California, rendering the final round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am impossible to play on Sunday or delay until Monday, Wyndham Clark emerged victorious, clinching the title with a stellar 17-under after 54 holes.
In a remarkable turnaround during the 2023 competition, the reigning U.S. Open champion staged a dramatic comeback, setting a new course record at Pebble Beach Golf Links with a score of 60 in the third round on Saturday. This incredible performance propelled him up 22 places in the rankings, overcoming a six-shot deficit from the leading trio of Scottie Scheffler, Ludvig Åberg, and Thomas Detry. Clark’s record-breaking spree continued with a score of 28 on the front nine.
Clark’s remarkable round on Saturday began with an eagle and a birdie, followed by an astonishing 5-under across the last four holes on the front nine, igniting speculation about a possible 59 score. He narrowly missed this opportunity, with an eagle putt on the 18th hole falling short by merely 7 inches. Despite starting the tournament with odds of +8000 at BetMGM, Clark defied expectations, not only by winning but also by being the first in the 2024 season to secure a TOUR victory with odds below triple digits. This victory was made even more notable due to the intervention of inclement weather, which solidified his lead and win following his extraordinary performance on Saturday.
Starting the tournament with less favorable odds after a first-round 72 at Spyglass Hill Golf Course left him trailing by nine, Clark’s odds lengthened significantly before his third-round comeback. Ludvig Åberg finished a close second, just one stroke behind, while Matthieu Pavon, coming off a win at the Farmers Insurance Open, finished third at 15-under. Thomas Detry, after leading the previous week in San Diego for 53 holes, tied for fourth at 14-under.
Now at 30, Clark, the U.S. Open defender, has secured his second Signature Event win following his inaugural TOUR victory last season at the Wells Fargo Championship. His success at Pebble Beach, attributed to exceptional putting and iron play, aligns with the winning formula observed in the tournament’s recent editions.
Returning to his home in Scottsdale, Arizona, Clark is set to participate in the upcoming WM Phoenix Open at the Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale, known as the “Greenest Show on Grass.” This marks a shift to a single-course format after several weeks of multi-course tournaments. Scottie Scheffler enters as the defending champion.
As the players leave the damp conditions of the Monterey Peninsula for the desert, they might find Scottsdale’s forecast surprisingly similar, with rain and temperatures in the high 50s anticipated. However, these conditions are likely to favor Clark’s recent form.
Looking ahead to the WM Phoenix Open, key factors to consider include historical performance at TPC Scottsdale and proficiency on Par-4s. The course, featuring 11 Par-4 holes, rewards players who excel in these areas, a trend seen in past successful participants like Rickie Fowler, Hideki Matsuyama, Daniel Berger, and Scheffler.
