- Postecoglou says hype will not affect teenage star Moore
- PSG reject league order to pay Mbappe 55 mn euros in back pay
- Olympic champion Zheng finds mojo to reach Tokyo semis
- Gritty Shakeel century gives Pakistan lead over England in third Test
- Tropical storm leaves towns submerged, 76 dead in Philippines
- Ancelotti 'not losing sleep' over improved Barca ahead of Clasico
- New Zealand lead by 301 after Santner's 7-53 in India Test
- Stock markets diverge in steady end to week
- UK climate strategy ruled lawful in landmark court case
- Lebanon says Israeli strike that killed media workers a 'war crime'
- Slot targets Arsenal scalp after flying start for Liverpool
- Shakeel's gritty century lifts Pakistan to parity in third Test
- Uganda court sentences former LRA commander to 40 years
- Marc Marquez clocks lap record to go fastest in Thai MotoGP practice
- Smog in Pakistan megacity ends outdoor play for schoolkids
- New Zealand on top after Santner's 7-53 in India Test
- 'End of an era' for Hezbollah after Israel killed its leader
- 'End of an era' for Hezbollah after Israel's killed its leader
- Lebanon minister says Israel strike puts second Syria crossing out of service
- Ahmed triple strike leaves Pakistan 187-7 in third Test
- Lebanon says Israeli strike killed 3 media workers
- Asia markets diverge after Tesla boosts Wall Street
- Tunisian freediver Walid Boudhiaf eyes records and developing the sport
- Schauffele makes up ground in Japan after opening-day nightmare
- Santner takes seven as New Zealand bowl out India for 156
- Lebanon says Israeli strike kills 3 journalists
- Beyonce v Joe Rogan: stars power up US election
- Locals fume as Lisbon's historic trams become tourist 'toy'
- India 107-7 after Santner takes four wickets for New Zealand
- Myanmar rebels take the road to Mandalay
- Taiwan president says 'won't yield an inch' in defence of island's territory
- Thunder roll past Jokic's Nuggets to open NBA campaign
- Bezzecchi quickest in opening practice for Thai MotoGP
- Commonwealth struggles to overcome splits over brutal past
- Stafford throws four touchdowns as Rams beat Vikings
- More than 150 Rohingya refugees rescued off Indonesia: UN
- Thai massacre families demand justice as charge deadline expires
- Asia markets split after Tesla boosts Wall Street
- Stung in Europe, Bayern and Dortmund face tricky away trips
- Confident Barca visit unpredictable Liga champions Madrid
- Arsenal face must-win match against Premier League pacesetters Liverpool
- Parra's Stade Francais 'lacking confidence' before hosting Clermont
- 'Our pride': Lone child brings hope to Japan's puppet village
- Thompson nets first USA goal in 3-1 friendly win over Iceland
- Biden to issue historic apology for abuse of Native American children
- Baseball blockbuster as Yankees, Dodgers clash in World Series
- Loud US election barges into quiet Amish country
- It's the economy, say voters in swing state Nevada
- Trump vs Harris: Competing visions for a warming world
- Colombia's Awa people resist violence, maintain 'spiritual bond' with nature
US Open champion Clark defends breakthrough title at Quail Hollow
US Open champion Wyndham Clark is looking back on a "crazy" year since his breakthrough PGA Tour title at Quail Hollow and focusing on the first title defense of his career.
"It's my first chance to defend. I don't know what that's like, so it has been exciting," Clark said Wednesday as he prepared to tee off Thursday in the Wells Fargo Championship, the sixth of the US PGA Tour's eight $20 million Signature events, which feature smaller fields and no halfway cut.
Now ranked third in the world, Clark was ranked 163rd when he arrived last year at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he out-dueled Olympic champion Xander Schauffele in a back-nine battle on Sunday to win his first career title by four strokes.
He would go on to win his first major title at the US Open and he set a Pebble Beach course record 60 on the way to victory in a weather-shortened Pebble Beach Pro-Am triumph in February.
Clark said his rise over the past year has been "humbling and fun."
"In 12 months, yeah, it's crazy to think I jumped that many spots and have a few wins under my belt now," Clark said. "I'm just really looking to continue to grow and get better. I like to think this is just the beginning, and hopefully it's the start of a lot of really good golf in the future years."
The 30-year-old from Colorado will be up against an elite field led by world number two Rory McIlroy, who won the title in 2010, 2015 and 2021.
McIlroy is coming off a victory alongside Ireland's Shane Lowry in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans PGA Tour team event.
"I think it freed me up a little bit," McIlroy said of playing in the unusual format, with a partner to take on some of the Sunday pressure.
"I've had a pretty slow start to the season, especially over here in the States," he added. "I felt like I needed something like that to get me going and hopefully that's the case."
Seven of the world's top 10 and seven past champions are in the field, including two-time winner Max Homa.
The most notable absentee is world number one Scottie Scheffler, who won a second Masters title and followed up with a win at the RBC Heritage last month.
Scheffler, winner of four of his last five starts, opted out of this final tuneup for next week's PGA Championship as he and his wife, Meredith, await the birth of their first child.
World number six Ludvig Aberg withdrew with a knee injury.
Fourth-ranked Schauffele, who played on the victorious US Presidents Cup team at Quail Hollow in 2022, is hoping to break through for a win after seven top-10 finishes this season.
"I'd say I haven't really been able to get everything together at once, which is sort of the story for every tour pro, so still working on that bit," Schauffele said.
Officials and the 69-player field were bracing for severe weather, with thunderstorms expected to move in on Wednesday night and perhaps linger through the first and second rounds on Thursday and Friday.
Y.Aukaiv--AMWN