US Open champ Clark says New York crowd hate is not reciprocated

The abuse Clark endured during the final round was another level, an unfortunate and uncomfortable storyline that developed at Shinnecock Hills as he was struggling to hold off Sam Burns and win the tournament for the second time

Wyndham Clark hits from the fairway on the first hole during the final round. Picture: Gerald Herbert/AP

The demons were bound to surface, as inevitable as that is when a golfer is attempting to win on one of golf’s biggest stages.

Who knew those demons would present themselves in human form?

Wyndham Clark might not be the most popular golfer in the world these days, and he’s had his share of missteps that have contributed to some of his issues.

But the abuse he endured Sunday during the final round of the U.S. Open was another level, an unfortunate and uncomfortable storyline that developed at Shinnecock Hills as Clark was struggling to hold off Sam Burns and win the tournament for the second time.

After taking a six-shot lead into the final round, Clark had all he could handle – from the unruly crowd and from Burns – when he needed to get down in two strokes from 52 feet on the final green.

He cozied up the putt to tap-in range to win his second U.S. Open and fifth PGA Tour title.

“New York didn’t really like me; I love you guys,” Clark said at the trophy presentation ceremony. “I get it. Some of it is self-deserved. I did some unfortunate things last year I really regret. I’m still sorry. Hopefully I can win them over.” Clark’s much-discussed locker-bashing at Oakmont a year ago following a club-throwing incident at the PGA Championship got the golfer on the bad side of many golf fans.

But he’s apologized, paid restitution and sought to get his game back together. Clark has been on a tear of late, winning the CJ Cup Byron Nelson last month and finishing third at the Memorial and tied for 11th at the Canadian Open coming into the U.S. Open.

Some of the jeering was due in part to playing with Scottie Scheffler, who was in pursuit of the career Grand Slam with a victory.

Scheffler finished in a tie for fourth, four shots back.

“The crowd was tough today. I mean, New Yorkers, they are tough people,” Scheffler said. “There was a good turnout from the fans. You like seeing the fans cheer for you. I think sometimes it can get a little too much when balls are kind of going off greens and you start hearing cheers. That felt a bit much to me.

Wyndham Clark celebrates after a putt on the fourth. Picture: Gerald Herbert/AP

“But at the end of the day, I can't control fan behavior. Being in the arena is not for everybody. You know, there's been crowds that have been for me in my career; there's been crowds that have been significantly against me in my career.” And certainly some of it had to do with the crowd wanting a tight contest, as they had been denied for a good bit of the tournament.

But it delved into the typical juvenile behavior that has become all to prevalent, especially as U.S. based-tournaments. “Don’t choke, Wyndham!” “Anybody but Wyndham!” Such bellowing was not feint.

Clark was seemingly in control coming into the day, pushing back every time he seemed to be in danger. Saturday’s round was particularly impressive as he saved par seven of nine times to forge a six-shot advantage, the fourth-largest 54-hole lead in U.S. Open history.

But Burns had other ideas. The 54-hole leader a year ago at Oakmont who ran into issues following a rain-delayed finish, played the first nine in 32, 3 under par, as Clark shot 38. He had cut his seven-shot deficit to a single stroke.

And that put him in some company with Arnold Palmer, who holds the record for the largest 54-hole comeback at the U.S. Open when he was seven strokes back at Cherry Hills in 1960. Ironically, that is the home club of Clark, who lives in Denver.

But the 2023 U.S. Open champion was not exactly in the mood for nostalgia. He had his own issues to deal with, namely the unruly crowd that was clearly rooting against him.

While Clark has had his issues over the past year – the high-profile locker-trashing incident at Oakmont last year the much-publicized highlight – the vocal display during the final round was uncomfortable.

Several spectators were ejected for crossing the line of decorum. That was obvious cheering when Clark hit a poor shot and several cries, including “Don’t choke, Wyndham.” Burns ended with a 67 after missing good chances for birdies on the final hole that would have tied.

“I think I did my best, and I did everything I could to have a chance to win today,” he said. “I started the day seven shots back. That's very difficult to overcome, especially someone who is playing as well as Wyndham has been playing. That was really the difference today.

“If I would have been a little bit closer and maybe could have got ahead of him at some point, I think there could have been a different outcome possibly, but at the end of the day, he played amazing, and it was his week. You got to tip your cap to him.” Clark became the 10th player to win the U.S. Open twice in a four-year span in the past 100 years. And he finished it off much like he did three years ago, with a long two-putt.

“The first one was kind of the breakthrough knowing I was good at it,” Clark said. “This was a lot of redemption. The last year was rough. I left in shambles. And this time I’m leaving as a champion.”