US Open winner Wyndham Clark paid tribute to his late mother after outlasting Rory McIlroy to claim his maiden major title.
Clark, 29, was considered the underdog coming into the final round, despite entering play as the overnight leader alongside fellow American Rickie Fowler. However, as Fowler faltered, the then world number 32 edged McIlroy by one stroke.
For Clark, this is only his second PGA Tour win and comes just over a month after winning his first, the Wells Fargo Championship. The Scottsdale, Arizona native had never made the cut at the US Open before triumphing this year.
With the win, Clark soars up to 13 in the world rankings and won $3.6 million in prize money. However, those added extras cannot compare to the emotion of the evening.
"I just felt like my mum was watching over me today," Clark said of his late mother, Lise, who died of breast cancer in 2013. "She can't be here, and I miss you, Mum. But I just feel like I've worked so hard, and I've dreamed about this moment for so long.
"There's been so many times I've visualised being here in front of you guys and winning this championship. I just feel like it was my time."
Clark also spoke about the woman he says was his rock earlier in the tournament. “When she was sick, and I was in college [at Oklahoma State University ], she told me, ‘Hey, play big,’” Clark told reporters, via CNN, on Friday after a second round 67.
“‘Play for something bigger than yourself. You have a platform to either witness or help or be a role model for so many people.’ I’ve taken that to heart.
"When I’m out there playing, I want to do that for her. I want to show everyone the person I am and how much joy I have out there playing and hope I can inspire people to want to be like me and be better than me.”
Clark continued: “I was walking down [on Thursday] and was just smiling as I was playing well, and I go, ‘Man, I wish you could be here, Mom,’ because it’s a dream come true to be doing this at the highest level in front of friends and family that are out here.”
“I wish she could be here, but I know she’s proud of me, and she’s made a huge impact on my life – I am who I am today because of her.
“She was kind of my rock and my always-there supporter. So when things were tough or when things were going great, she was always there to keep me grounded and either bring me up or keep the high going.
“I’m getting a little choked up. She’s everything, and I miss her, and everything I do out here is a lot for her.”
