Clark crushes course and field for fifth PGA Tour title

The 2023 US Open champion, who shot 30-under (254), went in front for the first time on Sunday (Monday AEST) with an eagle at the par-5 12th and twice took two-shot leads with clutch birdie putts over the final four holes.

Clark finished a back-nine 28 with an approach inside three feet at the par-4 18th. His ninth birdie matched Kim's 60 from the second round, when the 30-year-old South Korean lost a shot at 59 with a bogey at 18.

Kim (65) started with a two-shot edge, but couldn't keep up with Clark on the revamped, but still vulnerable TPC Craig Ranch.

Despite the addition of bunkers and significant changes to the contour of the greens on the par-71 layout, Clark was just one shot off Scheffler's winning score of a year ago. Scheffler's 31-under tied the PGA Tour's 72-hole scoring record of 253.

Clark's fifth tour victory was his first since 2024 at Pebble Beach, where he also closed with a 60.

The 32-year-old had an emphatic first pump after his 45-foot birdie putt at the par-3 15th. Clark was a little more reserved, but pumping a fist nonetheless after another birdie two, this one at the No.17 stadium hole.

A few minutes after Clark's long putt at 15, Kim was a shot behind when his 44-footer on the same hole slid by the right side of the cup. The deficit was two when Kim couldn't match Clark's birdie at 17.

Scheffler, who matched Kim's 65 and was 25-under, was the wire-to-wire winner of his hometown event a year ago.

The four-time major winner briefly was tied for the lead on Saturday, but never caught Kim - his partner in the final pairing - or Clark, one group ahead after the second hole in the final round.

Jackson Suber was a career-best fourth, shooting 63 to finish 23-under, while Keith Mitchell (64) was a stroke back in fifth.

Brooks Koepka, still looking for his first win since rejoining the PGA Tour from LIV Golf, shot 68, and Jordan Spieth (73), the other hometown favourite alongside Scheffler, finished 15-under.