At U.S. Open, Wyndham Clark fought for hearts and minds

Which is tougher: battling your swing or your reputation?

Wyndham Clark served as an interesting case study on Sunday afternoon at Shinnecock Hills.

“Get in the bunker!” one spectator bellowed in a Long Island accent as Clark’s first tee shot took flight in the final round of the U.S. Open. The ball found the fairway, but never mind that. Nine months and 60 miles removed from the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, New York partisanship was back on proud display.

And it wasn’t just the locals getting in on the action.

“Canada hates you,” another voice chimed in. When even our nice neighbors to the north have turned against you, you know you’re in dire need of damage control.

In fairness to Clark, that’s just what he’d been doing. All week long on the windswept East End, the notoriously hot-tempered 2023 U.S. Open champion had been sounding the same contrite refrain: He was sorry, okay? Could people please forgive him? That locker-wrecking tantrum at Oakmont last year was carried out by him in body, not in spirit. It wasn’t, he insisted, who he really is.

Whether that was true hardly seemed to matter. If there’s one thing fans like better than worshipping a hero, it’s hating on a villain. And with Scottie Scheffler—the beloved birthday boy, vying to complete the career Grand Slam — playing alongside Clark in the final pairing, the galleries had both.

Luckily for Clark, the crowds weren’t especially large or loud, not by major-championship standards. But they made themselves heard, yelling for his ball to “bite” when it needed to roll and for it to “get legs” when it needed to stop.

It got bad enough that several of the harshest hecklers were escorted from the grounds.

As if public sentiment weren’t enough, Clark’s ball-striking also turned against him. He hit just three greens in regulation on the front nine, and as he scrambled toward the clubhouse, his lead over Sam Burns shrank to a single shot.

But where his long game faltered, his short game held firm, most crucially on the par-5 16th, where, after another drive into the fescue, he salvaged birdie with a slippery putt from off the green.

The response was notable: a smattering of cheers amid the boos and barbs.

Then came the 18th.

One final test. One final par save from off the fairway in front of fans who’d spent the week pulling for almost anyone else.

“New York didn’t really like me,” Clark said during the trophy ceremony. “But I love you guys. I get it.”

More golf claps. Progress, maybe, on the PR front.

Clark had won the competition that really mattered. The fight for hearts and minds will go on.