Wyndham Clark brings bravado and redemption bid to Shinnecock

Though he is now in form, much of the past year has not been so fun for Clark, who came under fire in 2025 for two incidents where he lost his composure.

Wyndham Clark arrives at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club for the US Open coming off his best stretch of golf since he won America’s national open three years ago. Pic: Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images

Perhaps Wyndham Clark enjoys being the villain, the guy who doesn’t mind putting himself in the midst of some chicanery. He certainly didn’t mean to do that a year ago when he put his foot through a locker at the famed Oakmont Country Club.

But his mischievous ploy over the weekend at the Canadian Open sure smacks as someone who didn’t mind stirring a bit of good trouble.

Clark, the 2023 U.S. Open champion, arrives at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club this week coming off his best stretch of golf since he won America’s national open three years ago at Los Angeles Country Club.

He won the CJ Cup Byron Nelson three weeks ago for his first victory in more than two years. Clark followed that up by contending at the Memorial Tournament, where he finished third. And then he tied for 11th on Sunday at the RBC Canadian Open.

But it was at the Toronto-area event north of the US border that Clark quite cheekily showed his nerve with a playful troll at The Rink, the hockey-themed 14th hole that is a knockoff of the revelry at the par-3 16th found each year at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

The idea is to have some fun with the gallery, enjoy the banter, feel the atmosphere provided by a hyped-up crowd.

During the midst of shooting a third-round 63, Clark was feeling it enough to unveil a hockey jersey and pull it over his golf shirt. But not just any jersey. It was a Team USA jersey, No. 86, that of Jack Hughes, the Olympic gold medal game hero from February.

Hughes scored the “Golden Goal” of the epic USA-Canada encounter at the Italy Olympics, sending the hockey-mad country of Canada into despair and the Americans to their first gold medal in hockey since 1980, the “Miracle on Ice” team that beat a Russian juggernaut along the way.

Clark was understandably showered with boos as a sly, evil smile crept across his face.

“I was expecting boos, for sure. It was quite fun,” Clark said. “I mean, they were all booing, and then I took it off, stuck it close, put it back on. They were booing me all the way up even right before I putted. I was actually really nervous on that putt because if I miss that then it looks really bad.

“So I'm glad I birdied it. I think some guys came up and said, 'You got stones, you know, that was pretty impressive.' But, yeah, it was all fun and games.” 

Wyndham Clark holds the holds the trophy after winning the 2023 US Open golf tournament at Los Angeles Country Club. Pic: AP Photo/George Walker IV

Much of the past year has not been so fun for Clark, who came under fire in 2025 for two incidents where he lost his composure.

One was in public at the PGA Championship in Charlotte, where he threw a club in anger, hitting a promotional sign – ironically, for the mobile phone carrier for which he has an endorsement deal – and nearly a spectator.

Then after missing the cut at the US Open, he took out his frustration by damaging his locker, leading to being banned from the club which has since been dropped in light of a public apology, restitution and counseling.

Although there were some decent results afterward, Clark was not accomplishing much in 2026, with no top-10s until his victory in Dallas.

And the way he played made it all the more satisfying as he shot a final-nine 28 at TPC Craig Ranch and a round of 11-under-par 60, the first victory since his win at Pebble Beach in 2024, when he also shot a 60, in the third round, which ended up being the final round due to storms.

Then he owned what occurred a year ago.

“It’s amazing,” Clark said. “I have to first thank a lot of people because what happened last year at Oakmont wasn’t the greatest thing. My sponsors, Power Design, SOFI, T-Mobile, Lexus - all of them stayed with me, which means a lot. I’m very thankful for that.

“The greatest thing about having a downfall like that is the comeback. (The win) feels really special after having a really tough year and grinding it out.” 

Asked about it again on Monday at Shinnecock, Clark said: “That was a really challenging time and something I've deeply regretted and feel awful that I did that. But there were so many good lessons in that that really taught me a bunch. I've really come a long way, and I'm excited for this year's Open for some redemption and to move forward and enjoy the challenges of Shinnecock and how great this place is and how amazing this championship is.” 

The victory was the fourth of his PGA Tour career and means starts in the remaining Signature events, one of which was the Memorial where he contended. The other will be next week’s Travelers Championship.

Before the victory, Clark had dropped to 75th in the Official World Golf Ranking but the victory moved him into the top 50 and he now sits at 34th, still off his career high of third from early in 2024.

But at least he is headed back in that direction – and with a bit of bravado that we saw over the weekend.

“It's amazing,” he said. “Being a major champion is one of the greatest things in golf, and to come back, to feel that and be in the champions' locker room is really neat, and coming back to this great championship is something that always kind of reminds me of that amazing year in '23.”