Wyndham Clark said the harsh reception he faced last week in Canada helped him handle rough treatment during the final round of the U.S. Open, where New York fans wanted Scottie Scheffler and several spectators were removed after chants.
Wyndham Clark didn’t flinch when the jeers started coming.
At the U.S. Open on Sunday, the crowd in New York made it clear it wanted Scottie Scheffler to beat Clark in the final round. Clark still managed to hold on to a six-stroke lead and go wire-to-wire for a second U.S. Open win, even as the atmosphere turned against him.
Clark pointed to experience from the week before in Canada as a big reason he could stay composed. Last week at the RBC Canadian Open. he became a kind of villain after buying a Team USA Jack Hughes jersey from a fan in the crowd and wearing it on the Rink Hole during the third round in Caledon. Ont. From that point on, Canadian fans rooted against him.
Speaking to reporters after the final round, the Denver native said the Canadian Open week gave him useful preparation for what he faced in New York.
“I was kind of making jokes about it with (caddie) Dave (Pelekoudas). where if we heard someone cheer for me. I’d go ‘oh. there’s one person that likes me.’ So we would kind of make jokes and make it maybe a little light-hearted. ” Clark said. “But it’s tough, man. I’ve played now a Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup on foreign soil, and it had that atmosphere a little bit.”.
He added that being rooted against helped put him in the mindset he needed.
“I also got good prep last week in Canada. They were pretty harsh on me the last day. so I think that all of that combined kind of led to this moment where. all right. I’ve been in this position. It sucks being the underdog or getting rooted against. but I can pull through. and there’s nothing like winning kind of an away game. if you will. ” Clark said.
The tension didn’t end at Sunday’s tee box. After Friday’s round at the U.S. Open, Clark said he felt some Canadian fans “crossed the line.” Then, on the U.S. Open’s closing day, the roughness went further, with shouts that included “Get in the bunker.”
During the final round, several fans were kicked out, with the broadcast noting the chants.
Afterward, Clark’s hometown Colorado Avalanche also congratulated him for the victory.
Scheffler, meanwhile, finished four shots behind Clark.
“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, you know, balls are kind of going off greens and you start hearing cheers.”
U.S. Open Wyndham Clark Scottie Scheffler RBC Canadian Open Caledon Jack Hughes jersey Presidents Cup Ryder Cup crowd chants
Crowds get wild out there. I don’t blame him for staying locked in.
Wait so they wanted Scottie to win like… the whole time? That’s kinda cringe like just watch golf lol. Also “Get in the bunker” sounds petty, what did he even do.
I read somewhere he did the jersey thing and Canadians just lost it, which is weird bc it was a Hughes jersey right? Like hockey fans take everything personally. But also if the broadcast said people got removed then maybe it wasn’t just “jeers” like people acting like it was violence.
Tbh this sounds like the whole sports psychology thing where he’s like “away game” and then everyone clap for him. But I’m confused bc the article says fans wanted Scheffler to beat him, but Scheffler was behind anyway… so why were they chanting at all? And Canada “crossed the line” too like come on, crowds are crazy everywhere, especially New York, they’re basically like that on purpose. If he can win with six-stroke lead then great but I don’t think chants really matter that much.