Wyndham Clark led the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills while enduring chants, heckling, and even a security escort of a fan who told him not to choke. His victory celebration came with admission that New York fans didn’t take to him—and that he’s spent the p
For four straight days at the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, Wyndham Clark felt the heat before he ever swung. Fans cheered when his shots missed and heckled him loudly enough that some were removed from the grounds.
On Sunday, the pressure turned personal. On the fourth hole, a young fan yelled at Clark not to choke. Security walked the fan out.
Clark still played one of the biggest rounds of his life. He was doing it while a New York gallery openly rooted against him, and while the cheers for the players charging toward him were louder than the applause he expected.
At the trophy ceremony, Clark tried to meet the hostility head-on. “New York didn’t really like me,” he said. “I love you guys.” He then acknowledged what he has said before: “But I get it. Some of it’s self deserved. I did some unfortunate things last year that I really regret. and I’ve said sorry multiple times. and I’m still sorry. So, hopefully, I can win you guys over eventually.”.
Even in the moment, Clark framed the backlash as something rooted in his past—not something mysterious. He also said he understood why people would root for Scottie Scheffler.
Clark’s biggest problem with fans is not that he falters. It’s how he has responded when things go wrong.
The clearest incident came at the same championship a year earlier. At the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont in Plum, Pennsylvania, Clark missed the cut by a single stroke. Then he took his anger into the locker room. The club banned him. To be reinstated, he had to pay for the damage, make a charitable contribution, and complete anger management. He apologized in public, and he has continued apologizing since.
There were earlier flashes, too. One month before Oakmont. at the 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow. Clark threw his driver after a poor tee shot on the 16th hole. The club struck a sponsor sign and knocked it down just a few feet from a flag attendant. Clark apologized for that incident as well.
That pattern—visible slips followed by apologies, and visible temper in between—has helped make him one of the harder players to root for.
Golf Digest has described Clark as a rare lightning rod among PGA Tour players in good standing. saying he draws as much bad feeling as arguably any player on tour. Clark does not appear bothered by the reaction. Last week. at the RBC Canadian Open in Toronto. he wore a Team USA hockey sweater during a round. leaning into the fact that Team USA beat Canada in their own game. Hecklers responded by yelling “Canada hates you,” at him.
At this week’s U.S. Open, the crowd’s priorities were clear.
Sunday’s focus was on Scottie Scheffler, who was chasing a career Grand Slam on his 30th birthday. Fans sang Scheffler “Happy Birthday” on the first tee. Clark received shouts of his own name, but not much else that could be considered supportive.
The hostility sharpened on the course. When Clark’s approach shot rolled off the green on the 12th hole, the crowd cheered gleefully. One man even shouted “Scottie!”
The tension built for Clark was never only about one heckle or one missed shot. It was the collision of a lead he earned the hard way with a reputation fans have spent a year processing—public apologies. bans. and anger-related penalties—while they decide whether they want to cheer him or stay against him.
Wyndham Clark 2026 U.S. Open Shinnecock Hills Scottie Scheffler PGA Tour crowd heckling fan removed Oakmont 2025 Quail Hollow 2025 anger management Team USA hockey sweater
People are so weird for heckling a golfer.
Wait so they escorted a fan out for saying don’t choke? That seems excessive to me. Like, it’s trash talk, not a crime. Also the article says NY fans didn’t like him, but didn’t he used to play for them or something?
Not gonna lie, I kinda get rooting against someone who “self deserved” it… but walking him out for “choke” is still wild. I read somewhere he got in trouble last year? Like with the greens or whatever. If he regrets it, then cool, but fans are gonna fan. Also why is it always New York, can’t they pick on Ohio like normal.
This is why I hate sports crowds now. They act like they’re doing a favor by being mean. If he “did some unfortunate things last year” then fine, own it, but heckling for 4 days is just… too much. I’m confused though because the headline says he’s claiming the US Open lead, but the story is mostly fans chanting and security drama? Sounds like everybody watching for the spectacle not the golf.