Wyndham Clark Triumphs Amid Jeers at U.S. Open

Wyndham Clark faced a challenging atmosphere at Shinnecock Hills during the U.S. Open. The crowd expressed their displeasure throughout the day, wishing for his golf ball to land in undesirable spots like bunkers and roughs.

The tension peaked when fans shouted, “Don’t choke, Wyndham!” leading to one fan’s ejection. Clark silenced the critics with a pivotal 52-foot putt, securing his second U.S. Open title within four years and avoiding a historic collapse after his six-stroke lead shrunk to one.

The crowd, eager to see Scottie Scheffler’s pursuit of the career Grand Slam or Sam Burns’ victory, were not rooting for Clark. Last year, he caused damage to a locker at Oakmont Country Club, missing the cut and leaving a negative impression. Additionally, comments made during a TV interview about kids at the Masters Par 3 Contest were met with backlash. His first U.S. Open win in 2023 over popular figures Rory McIlroy and Rickie Fowler also added to his perception.

This Father’s Day, the spectators sought drama as Clark maintained significant leads throughout the tournament. He noted, “They definitely didn’t want me to win.” Some fans deserted the course on Saturday before his round concluded, and he wished they had done the same on Sunday.

Receiving such criticism in a major championship is uncommon, highlighted by similar treatment McIlroy faced during the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black last September.

Clark embraced the role of underdog, replacing negativity with positivity. He admitted, “Some of it’s self-deserved. I kind of brought it on myself, but I also get it, too. Scottie was going for the career Grand Slam.” Despite efforts to stay positive, the hostility affected his early play, marked by bogeys on the second, sixth, and seventh holes while the crowd backed Scheffler.

Expressions like “Get in the bunker!” for Clark contrasted with “We love you Scottie!” for Scheffler, who tied for fourth at even par. Scheffler shared, “You like seeing the fans cheer for you. But sometimes it can get a little too much.” The crowd’s support for Clark was fleeting, punctuated by cheers for his flubbed shots, such as under trash containers and into the bunker.

Clark temporarily won over the crowd on the 16th hole, recovering from tall grass and sinking a 24-foot birdie putt to lead by two strokes. However, taunting resumed after missing an 8-foot par putt on the next hole.

As Clark approached the 18th tee, a fan humorously sang “Under Pressure.” Reflecting on the challenges faced during the tournament, Clark confidently stated, “I’m proud of myself that I battled through. Things really could have gotten away from me. I stood tough. As long as you win, it doesn’t matter.”

Associated Press writers Doug Ferguson and Eddie Pells contributed to this report.