Daily English Article — June 22, 2026

Wyndham Clark delivered a commanding performance at the 2026 U.S. Open, held at the notoriously difficult Shinnecock Hills course. After the third round on Saturday, Clark carded an even-par 70, extending his lead to a remarkable seven strokes over the rest of the field. On a day when scoring was brutally tough, only two players managed to finish under par, making Clark's continued dominance all the more impressive and historic.

Scottie Scheffler and Emiliano Grillo were the only golfers to finish the third round in the red, with Scheffler posting a 1-under 69 to reach 1-under for the tournament and tie for second place. Scheffler's round was not without drama — he opened with back-to-back bogeys and agonizingly missed a short three-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole that could have shaved a shot off his deficit heading into the final round.

Clark's most memorable moment of the day came at the par-5 16th hole, where he struck a brilliant approach shot on the 604-yard hole, landing the ball just four feet from the cup and converting the eagle putt. That eagle stretched his lead to seven shots at one point, sending a clear message to the field that he would not be overtaken easily. His ability to consistently drain crucial putts inside eight feet has been a defining feature of his week.

If Clark can hold on through Sunday's final round, the victory would be his second U.S. Open title, following his 2023 triumph in Los Angeles. He has also been in superb form recently, winning on the PGA Tour at The CJ Cup last month and not finishing worse than tied for 11th since. Historically, only three players have ever finished under par at the five previous U.S. Opens held at Shinnecock Hills, and Clark has already surpassed that benchmark.

Clark and Scheffler are set to tee off together in the final pairing on Sunday afternoon, with the latter facing an uphill battle to close a seven-shot gap. Adding extra narrative to the day, Sunday happens to fall on both Father's Day and Scheffler's birthday. Whether Scheffler can mount a dramatic comeback or Clark will cruise to a second major title remains to be seen, but the stage is set for an intriguing final round.

Richard Garriott, the eccentric game designer, amateur astronaut, and owner of a medieval castle near Austin, Texas, has announced his intention to reclaim the Ultima franchise from Electronic Arts. Garriott, who sold his studio Origin Systems to EA back in 1992 for $30 million, stated in an interview with Inside Games that he plans to use an obscure provision in copyright law to legally retake control of the iconic role-playing game series, potentially as soon as next year.

The legal mechanism Garriott intends to exploit is a copyright statute that allows original creators to reclaim ownership of their work 35 years after it was sold or transferred, regardless of any prior agreements. Since the sale of Origin Systems took place in 1992, that window is now approaching. Garriott expressed deep frustration with EA's management of the Ultima series, which has not seen a mainline entry since 1999, noting that revival talks repeatedly stalled before producing any result.

However, the reclamation comes with a significant limitation. While copyright law would allow Garriott to regain ownership of the underlying creative work, EA would retain the trademark rights to the Ultima name. This means Garriott could legally develop and release a new game in the franchise's tradition, but would be required to brand it differently to avoid infringing on EA's trademark. It is an unconventional legal strategy, but one that reflects both the complexity of intellectual property law and Garriott's characteristic flair for the dramatic.

The Ultima series holds a prominent place in video game history as one of the earliest and most influential computer role-playing game franchises, spanning from the late 1970s through the 1990s. After the second installment was published by Sierra, Garriott established Origin Systems in 1983 to self-publish the series. EA's acquisition in 1992 brought Garriott considerable wealth, which he famously directed toward private space travel, constructing his castle, and other unusual pursuits.

Garriott has not yet elaborated on what form a reclaimed Ultima project might take, nor has he shed light on the purpose behind EA's recent trademark filings, which first drew attention from industry observers. He has invited fans to seek answers at his forthcoming appearance at Dragon Con in Atlanta, where he says he hopes to have a clearer vision to share. Whether the legal strategy ultimately succeeds remains uncertain, but the saga has reignited widespread interest in the dormant franchise.