WILTSHIRE’S Jordan Smith enjoyed his best finish at a major in six years last week by ending the 2023 US Open in a tie for 20th.

America’s Wyndham Clark claimed victory on Sunday after beating Rory McIlroy by a shot and finishing on 10 under par.

Smith took part in his seventh career major at the Los Angeles Country Club and continued his fine season with the second-best finish at either the PGA Championship, The Open, or the US Open.

After making his debut at one of ‘the big four’ in 2017 and finishing in a tie for ninth at the PGA Championship, played at Quail Hollow Club in North Carolina, Smith had failed to make the cut at the 2018 version and The Open Championship earlier that same year.

The 2021 US Open also saw him fail to play the weekend before a gritty display at St Andrews last year broke that streak and the Chippenham man ended in a tie for 47th.

After missing the cut at the PGA Championship earlier this season, Smith’s top-20 finish last week not only earned him around £157,000 but also a starting spot at Royal Liverpool in July for the 2023 Open Championship.

On Thursday, in a first round where most aside from Americans Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele struggled, Smith remained at level par and inside the top 40 ahead of 2022 winner Matt Fitzpatrick and current Masters champion, Brooks Koepka.

The Chippenham golfer held on nicely in Friday’s second round as LACC fought back and tightly restricted birdies to even the most dialled in. Smith knocked it around in 71 to play the weekend and continue earning Race to Dubai ranking points.

Saturday turned out to be Smith’s toughest round all week, and the 30-year-old posted 74 to fall back to a tie for 50th.

But the Wiltshire man bounced back in sensational style on his way to a second top-20 finish at a Major tournament.

Only Ryder Cup heroes Tommy Fleetwood and Jon Rahm, as well as American Austin Eckroat, bettered Smith’s Sunday score as he notched 66 to end the week alongside American Bryson DeChambeau and Ireland’s Shane Lowry.

The 30-year-old has moved up to 90th in the world and 43rd in the Race To Dubai as a result of another superb week.

Smith will not take part in the BMW International Open in Germany this week as he prepares for the British Masters at the Belfry – which begins on the Brabazon Course on Thursday, June 29.