A golf tournament is never going to have the same energy as the Chicago Bulls playing at the United Center as a matter of principle. But Wyndham Clark was hoping for a little more enthusiasm from fans at the Presidents Cup at Medina Country Club outside Chicago.
The US Open winner was paired with Collin Morikawa and the duo scored a point on Thursday, Sept. 24, the first day of action in the team competition that pits the United States against a group of international players.
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But Clark said that the patriotic spirit was lacking from fans in attendance.
“It was kind of dead out there,” Clark told reporters after he wrapped up play. “I felt like the momentum could have been better, to be honest, because we weren’t really feeling the fans, I think, as much as normal.
“There was a few shots, I mean, Collin hit a 5-wood on, what was it, 11 to like 10 feet, and we didn’t even know if it was on the green because no one clapped. So it was a little surprising. We’d make some big putts, I’m saying this more as a challenge that hopefully tomorrow and the weekend, the fans are out there really rooting us on, and regardless of what happens, we have the momentum.”
PRESIDENTS CUP DAY 1 WINNERS AND LOSERS: Thomas shines for US team, while Schauffele struggles
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Presidents Cup opens with pivotal Day 1 matches at Medinah
The Presidents Trophy on display at the first tee during the first round of the Presidents Cup in Medinah, Ill. on Sept. 24, 2026. The biennial match play competition between the U.S. and International teams kicked off Thursday at Medinah Country Club in Chicago with four-ball matches. Captain Brandt Snedeker and the Americans are out to defend home soil and win the Presidents Cup for an 11th straight time, while Captain Geoff Ogilvy’s International squad looks to spring a major upset. And getting off to a good start on Day 1 is critical for both teams.
(Jerod Ringwald, Imagn Images)
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Presidents Cup opens with pivotal Day 1 matches at Medinah
The Presidents Trophy on display at the first tee during the first round of the Presidents Cup in Medinah, Ill. on Sept. 24, 2026. The biennial match play competition between the U.S. and International teams kicked off Thursday at Medinah Country Club in Chicago with four-ball matches. Captain Brandt Snedeker and the Americans are out to defend home soil and win the Presidents Cup for an 11th straight time, while Captain Geoff Ogilvy’s International squad looks to spring a major upset. And getting off to a good start on Day 1 is critical for both teams.
(Jerod Ringwald, Imagn Images)
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Presidents Cup opens with pivotal Day 1 matches at Medinah
Fans cheer at hole one during the first round of the Presidents Cup.
(Jerod Ringwald, Imagn Images)
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Presidents Cup opens with pivotal Day 1 matches at Medinah
Bill Murray holds the Presidents Trophy at the first tee during the first round of the Presidents Cup in Medinah, Ill. on Sept. 24, 2026.
(Jerod Ringwald, Imagn Images)
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Presidents Cup opens with pivotal Day 1 matches at Medinah
Brandt Snedeker of the U.S. Team at the first tee during the first round of the Presidents Cup in Medinah, Ill. on Sept. 24, 2026.
(Jerod Ringwald, Imagn Images)
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Presidents Cup opens with pivotal Day 1 matches at Medinah
A view of the flyover at the first tee during the first round of the Presidents Cup.
(Jerod Ringwald, Imagn Images)
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Presidents Cup opens with pivotal Day 1 matches at Medinah
Sam Burns of the U.S. Team plays his shot from the first tee during Thursday’s Four-ball matches on day one of the Presidents Cup 2026 at Medinah Country Club on Sept. 24, 2026 in Medinah, Ill.
(Luke Hales, Getty Images)
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Presidents Cup opens with pivotal Day 1 matches at Medinah
Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns of the U.S. Team walks the first fairway with Min Woo Lee of Australia and the International Team and Sungjae Im of South Korea and the International Team during Thursday’s Four-ball matches on day one of the Presidents Cup 2026 at Medinah Country Club on Sept. 24, 2026 in Medinah, Ill.
(Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images)
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Presidents Cup opens with pivotal Day 1 matches at Medinah
Jackson Koivun of the U.S. Team places his ball on the second tee during Thursday’s Four-ball matches on day one of the Presidents Cup 2026.
(Luke Hales, Getty Images)
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Presidents Cup opens with pivotal Day 1 matches at Medinah
U.S.A. fans cheer at the first tee during the first round of the Presidents Cup.
(Jerod Ringwald, Imagn Images)
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Presidents Cup opens with pivotal Day 1 matches at Medinah
Justin Thomas of the U.S. Team and Jackson Koivun of the U.S. Team look on from the first tee during Thursday’s Four-ball matches on day one of the Presidents Cup 2026 at Medinah Country Club on September 24, 2026 in Medinah, Ill.
(Michael Reaves, Getty Images)
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Presidents Cup opens with pivotal Day 1 matches at Medinah
Hideki Matsuyama hits out of the bunker at hole three during the first round of the Presidents Cup.
(Jerod Ringwald, Imagn Images)
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Presidents Cup opens with pivotal Day 1 matches at Medinah
Cameron Young of the U.S. Team watches a putt at hole five during the first round of the Presidents Cup.
(Jerod Ringwald, Imagn Images)
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Presidents Cup opens with pivotal Day 1 matches at Medinah
Tom Kim of South Korea, left, and the International Team reacts with assistant captain Camilo Villegas of Colombia and the International Team on the second green during Thursday’s Four-ball matches on day one of the Presidents Cup 2026 at Medinah Country Club on Sept. 24, 2026 in Medinah, Ill.
(Michael Reaves, Getty Images)
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Presidents Cup opens with pivotal Day 1 matches at Medinah
Tom Kim of South Korea and the International Team plays a shot from a bunker on the third hole during Thursday’s Four-ball matches on day one of the Presidents Cup 2026 at Medinah Country Club.
(Michael Reaves, Getty Images)
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Presidents Cup opens with pivotal Day 1 matches at Medinah
A fan shows their support for the U.S. Team.
(Cliff Hawkins, Getty Images)
The tournament opened to much fanfare, including Bill Murray presenting the trophy, longtime Chicago Blackhawks national anthem singer Jim Cornelison belting out the “Star-Spangled Banner,” and a military flyover.
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The energy died down from there, but the United States grabbed a 3-2 lead when four-ball action was complete on Day 1. Scottie Scheffler and Justin Thomas are also playing for the home team, which is captained by Brandt Snedeker. Snedeker agreed with Clark that the fan presence could have been felt stronger.
“It was a weird day. I really felt like the fans were out there and they were there, but the first tee was loud, and then it just kind of dissipated as the day went on. I don’t know why,” Snedeker said, according to Golfweek, part of the USA TODAY Network. “I think part of it was because the golf course was set up pretty difficult. There was some really tough pins out there, so it was really hard to get a lot of birdies going. You’ve got guys going crazy, I guess. And there’s some tough viewing out there on some of the holes where people really couldn’t see what was going on.
“I know what Chicago is built of. I know what kind of fans we’ve got here. They’ll come out tomorrow. We’ve just got to go out and play good golf.”
U.S. President Donald Trump is the honorary chairman for this year’s Presidents Cup. He is expected to make an appearance at the tournament Sunday, Sept. 27 on the final day of competition.
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Also on Thursday in the Windy City, both the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs clinched a spot in the MLB playoffs – just the fourth time both teams will be in baseball’s postseason at the same time. While the White Sox celebrated in Kansas City, the Cubs punched their ticket by beating the Miami Marlins 2-1 at Wrigley Field. Maybe that’s where all the Chicago sports fans were.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Wyndham Clark criticizes lack of US fan support at Presidents Cup
