Wyndham Clark wins second US Open title amid crowd hostility
Wyndham Clark secured his second US Open title yesterday at Shinnecock Hills, though his triumph came amid an unusually hostile atmosphere from spectators, reports BritPanorama.
The 32-year-old American maintained the lead from start to finish under demanding conditions at the New York venue, adding to his maiden major victory at Los Angeles Country Club in 2023.
However, the championship was marred by crowd behaviour that saw police remove several fans for heckling Clark during play. “Man, they definitely didn’t want me to win,” Clark acknowledged afterwards.
Clark conceded that the crowd’s animosity was largely of his own making, stemming from an incident at last year’s championship. “It’s pretty rare in an Open Championship or a major to have fans kind of boo against your shots or cheer for bad shots,” he stated.
He elaborated, saying, “Some of it’s self-deserved. I kind of brought it on myself.” At the 2025 US Open at Oakmont, Clark missed the cut by a single stroke and subsequently damaged a century-old locker in the clubhouse during an angry outburst.
The fallout from Oakmont proved severe for Clark, who was banned from the property following the incident. His reinstatement was made conditional on completing anger management or counselling sessions, paying for the damage caused, and making a charitable donation selected by the club. Reports earlier this week confirmed Clark had fulfilled all requirements imposed upon him.
The golfer revealed the personal toll the Oakmont episode had taken. “What happened at Oakmont was obviously the lowest point,” he said. “People probably didn’t see what happened after, but you know, it was a really tough two, three days for me. I was in a dark place, didn’t really go outside much.”
Clark explained how he coped with the negativity throughout the tournament, saying, “Anytime someone said something negative to me, I replaced it with something positive.” He acknowledged that Scottie Scheffler’s pursuit of the career Grand Slam had contributed to the crowd favouring his rival: “I get it — they were rooting for Scottie. Grand Slams only happen a few times. But today it’s my day.”
Looking ahead, Clark expressed optimism that his Shinnecock Hills triumph might help him move past the Oakmont controversy, stating he hopes the victory “closes the door” on that chapter of his career.
