SOUTHAMPTON, New York ⁠June 20 (Reuters) - Wyndham Clark will hope for a livelier crowd as he ⁠bids for a second U.S. Open win at Shinnecock Hills on Sunday, ‌with a six-stroke lead giving him a clear path to the trophy and, he hopes, fans' affections.

A confluence of headline-grabbing sports events this week has taken some of the spotlight from Southampton, a ​ritzy beach town east of New York City.

Massive crowds ⁠gathered in downtown Manhattan to ⁠celebrate theKnicks' NBA title at a tickertape parade on Thursday, while on Friday soccer ⁠World ‌Cup co-hosts the United States were playing against Australia.

U.S. Open organisers even put the U.S. match against the Socceroos on one of two big screens ⁠in the media centre to let reporters keep oneeye ​on the beautiful game.

"It ‌was kind of unfortunate that we're finishing in the dark and people ⁠weren't really out ​there because there were some obviously key, big moments, and it did kind of get a little flat," said Clark, who carded an even-par 70 on Saturday and was seven ⁠under through 54 holes.

"Hopefully tomorrow there's a bunch ​of fans and stuff, but for me, it's still really important, and I still felt the moment. It's just maybe unfortunate that there weren't all the people there."

The 2023 ⁠champion conceded this week that his reputation had taken a hit among fans after a locker room incident at the event last year.

A later tee time on Saturday did not help matters much, as he squinted into the dying light during the ​final stages of the third round.

"Sometimes it made it ⁠tough to stay really focused because it seemed like everyone was leaving, and it ​was like the tournament was over, and I had ‌to keep myself really focused and in ​the present," said Clark.

"Hopefully there's people there tomorrow and it's a great atmosphere."

(Reporting by Amy Tennery in Southampton, New York; Editing by Peter Rutherford)