Wyndham Clark celebrates after winning the U.S. Open on Sunday.Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times

SPORTSDISTINCTION 08.23

123rd U.S. Open Championship in Los Angeles

By Diana Addison Lyle

The Los Angeles Country Club hosted the 123rd U.S. Open for the first time ever from June 15 -18, 2023, and it was the first time that the U.S. Open returned to Los Angeles since 1948 when Ben Hogan won the first of his four U.S. Opens with a 72-hole score of 276 (8 under par) at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades.

This historical event following on the heels of one of the most shock-ridden weeks in professional golf history in which it was announced that the PGA Tour and European tour would merge with the Saudis to end the LIV Golf feud. The PGA Tour abruptly dropped its expensive fight with Saudi Arabia’s LIV Golf venture to create a global operation featuring the world’s top players backed by the Saudis’ massive wealth. The move invited a frenzy of reactions from professional golfers and their dedicated fans.

June gloom shrouds the downtown L.A. skyline as the first round of the U.S. Open gets underway at the Los Angeles Country Club. Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times

The 2023 U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club marked another huge change: this exclusive and private club had long been against turning itself inside out – but the combination of an impressive club restoration and a new generation of progressive club members helped move it into a new era of hosting one of the most extraordinarily great majors.

Rory McIlroy hits out of the rough on the 14th hole during the final round of the U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club on June 18. Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times

The event was exhilarating with the relatively unknown Wyndham Clark defying the odds by fighting his way to the trophy – ahead of the highly pedigreed Rory McIlroy – who was chasing his 5th major win. As both men strove for the Hollywood ending, it was Wyndham Clark who clinched the victory. His mental fortitude, athletic talent, acute concentration, and his poise were invaluable attributes on a crucial day. Clark was the definition of a champion who knew how to rebound from mistakes better than anybody else on the day that counted the most.