Wyndham Clark Criticizes U.S. Fans at Presidents Cup Over Dead Atmosphere
Reigning U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark criticized the home crowd for lacking energy during his opening match at the Presidents Cup at Medinah. Team USA supporters failed to generate a vocal atmosphere, according to the two-time major winner.
Clark and teammate Collin Morikawa defeated the International team’s Adam Scott and Ryan Fox by a score of 3 and 2 on Thursday afternoon. Despite the comfortable victory in their four-ball match, Clark expressed disappointment with the gallery during his post-match press conference.
The American duo reached an early 3-up lead by the 6th hole before hitting a mid-match lull where they struggled to sink putts. Clark pointed to a dead atmosphere outside the ropes as a primary reason for their stagnant momentum during the middle stretch of the round.
“Yeah, the momentum was on our side early. I do want — and these guys are going to laugh, but it was kind of dead out there,” Clark said. “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.”
Fan Reaction And Past Friction At Major Events
Clark noted specific instances where strong shots from the U.S. pairing drew minimal response from the gallery. He recalled a moment when Morikawa hit a 5-wood on the 11th hole to roughly 10 feet, leaving the players uncertain if the ball reached the green because supporters failed to clap.
The comments arrive after a tumultuous season for Clark regarding fan relations. During the U.S. Open in June at Shinnecock Hills, large groups of spectators actively rooted against him, a hostile reception that followed an incident at the 2025 U.S. Open where Clark damaged lockers at Oakmont.
While fans at Medinah did not heckle Clark, his public critique of their quiet demeanor surprised observers. Clark clarified that his intention was to challenge the gallery to increase their vocal support for the remainder of the tournament.
“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,” Clark explained. Spectators could respond by either fueling frustration or stepping up their volume on day two.
Reflecting On Missing The Ryder Cup At Bethpage Black
Clark’s remarks on mild-mannered spectators contrasted sharply with the chaotic environment at the Ryder Cup last year at Bethpage Black. Unruly fans at Bethpage harassed European players and their families, drawing widespread condemnation from the golf world.
The International team at Medinah experienced no such harassment, and spectators maintained respectful behavior on Thursday. Clark missed selection for the previous year’s U.S. Ryder Cup squad, a snub that left him frustrated.
“Yeah, I was obviously pissed I didn’t make the team. I didn’t watch the first couple days because I was a little sour about it, not because I didn’t get the pick, it was just more that I had such a bad year,” Clark stated. He eventually tuned in to watch the American team’s Sunday singles comeback attempt, using the experience as motivation to secure his place on the Presidents Cup roster.