Wyndham Clark called out American fans for their lack of atmosphere on the first day of the Presidents Cup.
Team USA are attempting to defend the trophy they won two years ago as their contest against the International team returns at Medinah Country Club.
Clark is back in the fold off the back of his stunning season having been a controversial snub from last year’s Ryder Cup loss against Europe at Bethpage Black.
There was no doubt about his place this year having enjoyed a career year, winning three times including his second US Open at Shinnecock Hills in June.
But Clark did not hide the fact he was disappointed by the ‘kind of dead’ environment he encountered in Illinois.
It was a far cry from the atmosphere at Bethpage Black, which threatened to spill over and cross the line as Team Europe stars faced a barrage of abuse alongside passionate support for the USA.
Wyndham Clark called out the lack of atmosphere from American fans at the Presidents Cup
Fans flocked to Medinah Country Club to watch Team USA take on the International Team
Clark and Collin Morikawa won 3&2 in their fourball matchup against Ryan Fox and Adam Scott to help the hosts lead 3-2 after the first day.
After their match, Clark said: ‘Yeah, the momentum was on our side early. I do want – and these guys are going to laugh, but it was kind of dead out there.
‘I felt like the momentum could have been better, to be honest, because we weren’t really feeling the fans, I think, as much as normal.
‘There was a few shots – I mean, Collin hit a 5-wood on, what was it, 11 to like 10 feet, and we didn’t even know if it was on the green because no one clapped.
‘It was a little surprising. We’d make some big putts – I’m saying this more as a challenge that hopefully tomorrow and the weekend the fans are out there really rooting us on, and regardless of what happens, we have the momentum.’
Clark has become a controversial figure in American golf since he was disciplined by Oakmont Country Club after he destroyed a locker after missing the cut at the 2025 US Open.
He faced harsh treatment from fans on his way to victory in this year’s US Open at Shinnecock Hills but claimed that since that win it has been ‘all love’ ahead of the Presidents Cup as he spoke about a desire to change his image.
‘I think if it didn’t happen throughout my career, that would be a bummer,’ Clark said.
‘Even though maybe the media has made me out to be kind of the villain, if you will, I don’t feel like I’m that person, and eventually it would be nice if people were rooting for me and someone else was the underdog. We’ll see. Hopefully things are trending and changing the right way.’
Clark was very honest about the atmosphere at Medinah after Thursday’s first day of play
Tom Kim of the International Team won his matchup alongside fellow South Korean Si Woo Kim
World No.1 Scottie Scheffler partnered Sam Burns to a narrow win in their Fourball match
USA captain Brandt Snedeker was asked about Clark’s comments on the Presidents Cup crowd on Thursday and admitted: ‘It was a weird day.
‘I really felt like the fans were out there and they were there, but the 1st tee was loud, and then it just kind of dissipated as the day went on. I don’t know why.
‘I think part of it was because the golf course was set up pretty difficult. There was some really tough pins out there, so it was really hard to get a lot of birdies going.
‘You’ve got guys going crazy, I guess. And there’s some tough viewing out there on some of the holes where people really couldn’t see what was going on.
‘I know what Chicago is built of. I know what kind of fans we’ve got here. They’ll come out tomorrow. We’ve just got to go out and play good golf.’
