Wyndham Clark experienced a really tough time during the final round of the US Open at Shinnecock Hills on Sunday.
Clark’s behavior in the past has been questionable to say the least, and he’s fully aware of that.
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The 32-year-old threw his club in anger during the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow last year, narrowly missing a volunteer and damaging an advertising board.
And just one month later, Wyndham Clark damaged lockers at Oakmont last year after he missed the cut at the US Open.
Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Clark went through some really tough times after the US Open in 2025, and he decided to immerse himself into working on his game during the off-season and, indeed, improving as a person.
However, he quickly learned at Shinnecock Hills last week that golf fans do not forgive and forget quickly.
Fans abusing Wyndham Clark was a ‘very strange and surreal experience’
Former Solheim Cup player Mel Reid spoke during Sky Sports’ broadcast of the US Open after Clark’s win at Shinnecock.
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And she admitted that following the group in front of the eventual champion was a ‘very strange and surreal experience’.
“Because of the adversity that he’s had in his life personally I think he does have a chip on his shoulder,“ Reid said.
“He does want to prove people wrong and when his back is against the wall he wants to back himself. That is something that he has worked so hard on over the last few years.
Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images
“I mean that must not have been easy. Not only are you trying to win the US Open with a big lead but when your home crowd is against you.
“I mean you expect it at a Ryder Cup and the Solheim Cup. You even expect it as a European trying to make a move in this tournament.
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“It was just very strange and surreal experience to be on the golf course. I could hear everything he was doing because people were cheering for the wrong shots.
“But the proof is in the pudding. He has now won two US Opens. He is backing up the confidence that he has. Hopefully now he can switch the opinion of the American fans and I hope he does. Because I genuinely do think he has made mistakes but he’s trying to rectify that.“
Wyndham Clark winning over the fans won’t be an easy task
Reid is right, it obviously wouldn’t have been easy for Clark.
However, the one big positive is that the 32-year-old does seem to be aware that his actions last year had consequences.
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And he is suffering from them right now.
Wyndham Clark won his second US Open title on Sunday at Shinnecock Hills.
However, there were hardly any fans inside the property cheering him on. It was so unusual to see an American golfer actively jeered by the fans during a US Open.
However, he made his bed, and now he has to lie in it.
It may take a while before Clark is able to change the public’s perception of him as a golfer and a person.
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