Wyndham Clark Wins Second U.S. Open Amid Fan Hostility

Wyndham Clark captured his second U.S. Open on Sunday at Shinnecock Hills, finishing at four under par to beat Sam Burns by one stroke. He entered the final round with a six-stroke lead, saw it narrow to a single stroke, and closed with a 3-over 73, becoming the eighth wire-to-wire champion.

ESPN

Last year Clark missed the cut at Oakmont and smashed two historic lockers, prompting a ban, a charitable donation, and anger-management counseling. He publicly apologized, but the incident continued to shape fan perception entering the 2026 Open.

ESPN

Clark’s 54-hole total of 7-under 203 set a Shinnecock record. He hit 20 of 36 greens in regulation and scrambled 66 % of the time, ranking third for recovery. Only three golfers finished under par for the week, underscoring the course’s difficulty. NBC recorded an average of 5.5 million viewers for the final round, the second-highest East-Coast rating since 2013, modestly up from 5.4 million in 2025.

ESPN

Clark said the crowd’s hostility was “self-deserved” but expressed relief at winning. He also thanked his father Randall, who flew in for Father’s Day, for his support. Scheffler called the New York audience “tough” and noted the volume of cheers for missed shots “felt a bit much.” Bradley described the scene as part of golf’s shift toward a more mainstream, fan-driven atmosphere. NBC highlighted the ratings rise as evidence of sustained interest.

ESPN

Spectators at Shinnecock booed Clark’s shots, cheered missed putts and ejected at least one heckler. One fan was removed after repeatedly shouting “Don’t choke” at Clark. Influencer Paige Spiranac called the treatment “taken too far,” arguing that Clark’s earlier accountability should temper the backlash. The incident sparked debate over whether fan conduct exceeded acceptable sportsmanship.

The Sun - US

• “Man, they definitely didn’t want me to win.” — Wyndham Clark, champion

The Sun - US

• “I mean, New Yorkers, they are tough people.” — Scottie Scheffler, world No. 1

Hartford Courant

• “Golf is in the process of … leaving just the golf world,” — Keegan Bradley, Ryder Cup captain

Hartford Courant

• “She wrote on X: “The hate for Wyndham Clark doesn’t make sense to me.” — Paige Spiranac, golf influencer

The Sun - US

• “I'll probably always get them, but I hope I don't become the heel of the PGA.” — Wyndham Clark, post-victory interview

ESPN

Clark returned to Connecticut’s TPC River Highlands for a sponsor-exempt start, aiming to rebuild fan goodwill. He stays eighth in the Official World Golf Ranking and will target the upcoming Open Championship as his next major test. He will also appear at the PGA Tour’s season-ending Tour Championship.

Hartford Courant