Not much came easy for Wyndham Clark in the final round of his 2026 U.S. Open win. If Shinnecock Hills and its wind gusts weren’t challenging enough, Clark was met with a chorus of boos all day from a rowdy crowd. He joined the Dan Patrick Show to reflect on how he navigated the hostile environment to secure his second U.S. Open title.
“It’s so hard to play at that golf course,” Clark reflected. “It just requires so much mental fortitude.”
Clark entered Sunday’s final round with a six-stroke lead looking to cruise to victory. However, the gap closed after a rough start to a “wild” day which saw runner-up Sam Burns trail by just one stroke. As Clark struggled, the crowd continued to jeer. Clark said the crowd’s reaction wasn’t a “complete shock.”
In 2025, Clark ruffled the feathers of golf fans on a couple of occasions, including throwing his driver and breaking a sign at the PGA Championship and damaging historic Oakmont lockers at the U.S. Open. On top of that, the crowd certainly rallied behind Scottie Scheffler, who was going for a career grand slam on his 30th birthday. Clark told Patrick that he replaced the negativity with positivity, flashing an “internal smile” when he hushed the crowd with his play.
Despite the boos and a shaky overall day, Clark regained momentum after Burns missed birdie putts on the last two holes, ultimately securing a one-stroke victory. Clark said it was “amazing” to “pull through and win such a big championship.” It’s a performance that Clark hopes will win people in the golf community back over, and one he says he did with “class and poise and kindness and love.”
