Kim Ju-hyung holds second at US Open but trails leader Clark by 6 shots

Kim Ju-hyung maintained a share of second place at the 126th US Open on Saturday, but a six-stroke deficit to leader Wyndham Clark of the United States makes a come-from-behind victory a tall order.

Playing at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club (par 70) in Southampton, New York, Kim carded four birdies and six bogeys for a 2-over-par round, leaving him at 1-under-par 209 for the tournament. He sits in a tie for second alongside Scottie Scheffler, Sahith Theegala and Sam Stevens, all of the United States.

Kim played well through the 13th hole, recovering from four bogeys with three birdies. He could not escape bunker trouble on the par-4 14th and par-4 15th, however, making consecutive bogeys on both. He still managed a birdie on the par-5 16th to remain among the five players in red figures for the tournament.

"You can't force a lot of things at Shinnecock Hills," Kim said after his round. "You have to play your own game and keep being patient. I plan to stay patient and work through the final round the same way."

Winds gusting up to 50 kilometers per hour battered the course that day, sending several top-ranked players tumbling over par. World No. 1 Scheffler, who is chasing a career Grand Slam, salvaged a 1-under round with four birdies against three bogeys, positioning himself for a final-round charge.

Clark, who led after each of the first two rounds, also weathered the conditions — offsetting four bogeys with an eagle and two birdies to protect his score. He heads into the final round at 7-under-par 203, six clear of the field.

Clark's eagle came on the par-5 16th, a 604-yard hole, where he stuck his second shot to within 1.3 meters of the pin. The American won the US Open in 2023 and is bidding to reclaim the title three years later.

"Scottie Scheffler is the best player in the world. He'll probably play great tomorrow," Clark said. "But starting six ahead of him is a good thing. I'm going to try not to think too much about the margin — just go out there, execute the game plan and hit the shots I can hit, and good things will happen."

Im Sung-jae carded a 1-over-par 71 to sit at 2-over 212 for the tournament, tied for 17th alongside Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and Korean American Michael Kim of the United States. Im made four birdies but dropped five bogeys.