Wyndham Clark is trying to run away from the field at the U.S. Open, but just a few days ago he was doing his best to get run out of Canada.
At last week’s RBC Canadian Open, Clark wore a Team U.S.A. Jack Hughes hockey jersey at the tournament’s famous Rink Hole, and it went over about as well as you’d expect. The 2023 U.S. Open champion said fans went over the line on Sunday at TPC Toronto, although he admitted he brought it on himself.
The Jersey Incident
The original plan began before the tournament even started. On Wednesday, Clark got to the 14th hole and thought, "Oh man, we should have a USA jersey." He tried to overnight one but found it too difficult to get into Canada. On Friday, he spotted a fan wearing a Hughes jersey, beelined to him, and offered $200 to buy it. The fan agreed, and Clark wore it on the 14th hole.
“I put it on in the tunnel, walked out, got a bunch of grief, which I knew I was going to do. Then fortunately, I followed it up with a birdie. That was awesome,” Clark said.
Fan Reaction
The rude reception didn’t end on Friday. Fans continued to let him have it through the weekend. In Clark’s opinion, they finally crossed the line late Sunday afternoon when he was playing alongside winner Bud Cauley. “I loved the banter. It maybe crossed the line on 18. You know, they were yelling in my backswing,” he said. “I felt more bummed for Bud because Bud was trying to win a tournament, and it seemed like the banter almost took away from his limelight. I was a little bummed about that.”
Learning from the Past
Clark, 32, is looking to win his second U.S. Open championship this week at Shinnecock after coming under serious fire at last year’s U.S. Open, where he took his frustrations out on the locker room at Oakmont. That outburst earned him a suspension from the private club and drew nearly universal scorn. “I’ve gotten a lot of grief since last year, rightfully so,” he said on Friday. “The thing that’s unfortunate is that’s not who I am.”
Clark says he has been working hard on both his game and his attitude over the past year. “Yeah, I definitely feel like I’m in a better place. Hopefully a great weekend and great rest of the year, maybe I’ll gain all those fans back.”
