Clark holds off Burns and hostile crowd for US Open win
Wyndham Clark won the US Open at Shinnecock Hills by one shot, a year after damaging a locker at the tournament and facing heavy crowd abuse.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
3 min read
Wyndham Clark won the US Open at Shinnecock Hills despite a hostile New York gallery, securing his second title in the tournament and his second major championship. AFP reported that Clark shot a three-over-par 73 in the final round to beat fellow American Sam Burns by one stroke.
The victory gave Clark a public rebound from last year’s US Open at Oakmont, where AFP reported he missed the cut and damaged a locker, an incident for which he has repeatedly apologised. Clark, who also won the US Open in 2023, said this title carried added weight after what happened a year earlier.
“The first one was amazing, and this one seems even better,” Clark said, according to AFP. “Especially after such a sour taste last year in this championship, to have some redemption and win this again is almost surreal.”
Clark said he hoped the win would help move the conversation beyond the Oakmont episode, though he acknowledged the reaction from fans may not disappear. “I sure hope it closes the door on it,” he said, according to AFP. “I’ll probably always get hecklers, but I hope I don’t become the heel of the PGA.”
AFP reported that Clark described the period after Oakmont as the lowest point of his career. He said he spent two or three difficult days after the incident, felt his reputation and standing in the sport slipping, and did not imagine he would be holding the US Open trophy a year later.
Clark also said he has gained better control of his temper. Asked about jokes over what might have happened had he lost a six-shot final-round lead, he told AFP that he is “not as angry” as he used to be and said his life and golf are both in a better place.
AFP reported that Clark also linked last year’s disappointment to being left off the Ryder Cup team, calling that decision another blow. He said he was pleased to have come through that period and reached “the other side of things.”
The atmosphere at Shinnecock was difficult, according to Clark and AFP’s account. Clark said some fans cheered his mistakes and stayed quiet after strong shots, adding that the crowd “definitely didn’t want” him to win.
“I kind of brought it on myself,” Clark said, according to AFP. “I’m proud of myself I battled through. Things really could have gotten away from me. I stood tough.”
Clark said he joked with caddie Dave Pelekoudas whenever he heard support from the crowd, counting rare cheers as evidence that at least one person was pulling for him. He compared the mood to playing a Presidents Cup or Ryder Cup on foreign soil.
After the finish, Clark said Scottie Scheffler’s caddie, Ted Scott, praised the effort. According to Clark’s account to AFP, Scott told him it took “a lot of grit” to win when few spectators were backing him.
AFP reported that Clark had also drawn boos a week earlier at the PGA Canadian Open after wearing a USA hockey jersey. Clark said being rooted against was unpleasant, but added that “there’s nothing like winning an away game.”
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.