American golfer Wyndham Clark claims US Open victory ahead of ...

American golfer Wyndham Clark has seen off a Rory McIlroy charge to claim the 2023 US Open.

Both golfers had mixed moments in the dying stages of the round, with Clark eventually holding on by one shot to finish at 10-under for the tournament.

Australian Cameron Smith put in a stellar day to go three under for the round, finishing fourth overall at 6-under, while West Australia's Min Woo Lee finished equal sixth.

Clark had begun the day as joint leader with fellow American Rickie Fowler on 10-under and McIlroy a shot behind. 

However, Fowler had three bogeys and a birdie on the front nine to lose ground on the way to a 5-over round of 75.  

The 29-year-old Clark, a golfer from Denver, Colorado, held his nerve on the difficult Los Angeles Country Club course.

He was playing in just his seventh major tournament — previously he had never finished any higher than 75th. 

He shot three birdies and two bogeys in the opening nine holes, to be 11-under at the turn.

England's Tommy Fleetwood mounted a final round charge, shooting a 7-under round of 63 to be the early leader in the clubhouse at 5-under.

Smith could have been even closer to the finish, shooting five birdies and two bogeys in his final round 67.

American world number one Scottie Scheffler shot a level par round of 70 and finished third, three shots back.

But it came down to Clark and McIlroy.

Clark managed five big par saves in a row from the ninth to keep his lead.

Rory McIlroy's bid for a first major title since 2014 came to grief with a bogey on the par-five 14th. (AP: Lindsey Wasson)

But the big change came at the par-five 14th. McIlroy made a bogey in the penultimate group on the course, and behind him Clark came through with a birdie.

The two-shot swing gave him a three-shot lead with four to play.

Successive bogeys made things a bit tighter, however, but McIlroy's inability to get another birdie after the opening hole of the day cost him.

The rivals both parred the last, with Clark sinking his final putt to set off an emotional celebration.

"I've worked so hard and dreamed about this moment for so long," Clark said while collecting the trophy and winner's check of $US3.6 million ($5.3 million).

"So many times I've visualised being in front of you guys and winning this championship. I felt like it was my time."

The tears flowed for Wyndham Clark after his US Open win.(Getty Images: Ross Kinnaird)

ABC/Wires