Wyndham Clark silenced the jeering New York crowd at Shinnecock Hills to capture his second US Open trophy, finishing one stroke ahead of Sam Burns with a final-round 73. The victory came just a year after a locker-smashing incident at Oakmont left his reputation in tatters.
"This one feels even better than the first," Clark said. "After the sour taste last year, getting redemption is surreal."
Clark faced relentless taunts from fans who cheered his mistakes and met his good shots with silence. "They definitely didn't want me to win," he admitted. "It's rare in a major to have fans booing your shots. But sometimes being the underdog helps."
The 30-year-old revealed he had hit rock bottom following the 2025 US Open, where he missed the cut and damaged his locker in frustration. "That was the lowest point. I didn't go outside much for days. I felt my career and reputation slipping away," he recalled.
Since then, Clark has worked on controlling his temper. "I'm not as angry as I used to be. My anger has faded, which is a blessing. I'm happier in life and not caught up in things that don't matter."
Clark also noted that being passed over for the Ryder Cup team added to his struggles. "That was another jab to the stomach. But I'm glad to be on the other side now."
His caddie, Dave Pelekoudas, helped him maintain humor amid the hostility. "If we heard a cheer, I'd say, 'There's someone who likes me,'" Clark joked.
Scottie Scheffler's caddie, Ted Scott, praised Clark's resilience. "He told me, 'That took a lot of grit. No one was pulling for you, and you still won.'"
Clark, who wore a USA hockey jersey at the previous week's Canadian Open to provoke fans, acknowledged the tough atmosphere. "It sucks being rooted against, but there's nothing like winning an away game."
Despite his fears of becoming the PGA Tour's villain, Clark hopes the victory will quiet the hecklers. "I'll probably always get them, but I hope I don't become the heel."