Whatever dread Wyndham Clark felt when he saw the tee times and the forecast for the U.S. Open gave way to hope Thursday, and he still hadn’t even arrived at Shinnecock Hills.

The USGA set up a different course at Shinnecock Hills to handle strong wind Thursday. When the wind subsided later, Wyndham Clark seemed to play a different U.S. Open.

The U.S. Open is supposed to force players to submit to the course’s will, not the other way around. Wyndham Clark took control on Thursday at the U.S. Open.