Post-round interviews on Sundays are often short but can be extremely telling. Sometimes it’s through tears or choked up answers. Other times it’s just a big exhale and a scattered brain as the reality rushes over them. For Wyndham Clark on Sunday, it was a curious answer about one of his darkest moments: the situation between him and Oakmont Country Club after he damaged a locker at last year’s U.S. Open.

“I have to first thank a lot of people,” Clark said after winning the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, “because what happened at Oakmont wasn’t the greatest thing.” 

He then thanked each of his sponsors by name for sticking with him through a trying time. “I’m very thankful for that,” he continued, adding, “You know, the greatest thing about having a downfall like that is the comeback. Today feels really special after having a tough year and grinding it out.” 

Not everything was made clear by that answer, but the fact that it was volunteered so immediately and acknowledged publicly says something. Perhaps Clark will add more as the weeks and months move forward, having summited the Tour mountain once again. Sunday’s immediate response was telling, in part, because Clark hadn’t spoken much about Oakmont period. 

Last June, in the waning minutes of the U.S. Open, Clark severely damaged one of the lockers in that club’s ancient locker room. In the weeks that followed, whatever happened — or didn’t — led to the club banning Clark from Oakmont property. In a letter addressed to Oakmont membership, club president John Lynch said, “Reinstatement would be contingent upon Mr. Clark fulfilling a number of specific conditions, including full repayment for damages, a meaningful contribution to a charity of the Board’s choosing, and the successful completion of counseling and/or anger management sessions.”

As with plenty of things in pro golf and involving a famously exclusive golf club, not much else was said publicly. A month later, at the Open Championship, Clark said he wanted to do “anything” he could to show Oakmont, “what happened there was not a reflection of who I am and won’t happen again.” He apologized again, but made it clear he intended to right his wrongs.

Until this week, that was the last we’d heard of it. Right until the opening answer of Clark’s post-win interview. 

Perhaps it is most fitting for this kind of statement from Clark, whose journey to the top of the pro game has often aligned with a discussion about mental health. He admitted to Amanda Balionis that there were times in 2025 that he was concerned he may never get back in the winner’s circle. On Saturday, as part of a tournament initiative that allows players to decide what name or phrase is velcro’d to their caddie’s back, Clark included the term “Unlok”, the name of a mental health app he hopes to launch in the coming year.

His career triumph, at the 2023 U.S. Open, was a story of mental health, and not always a positive one. It was during his championship press conference that he admitted to “three or four” moments of mental anguish in his career through which he stayed the course. Those moments included, by his own admission, screaming in his car, punching things, etc. It pushed him to PGA Tour sports psychologist Julie Elion, who Clark thanked to no end in the months that followed. Their work together unlocked his true potential, helping him rise as high as No. 3 in the world.

But when his good golf began to fade, that mental battle continued to show itself. It showed when he whipped his club into tournament signage at the 2025 PGA, and it showed in how he responded during a disappointing weekend at Oakmont. The journey of pro golf and the journey of mental health is rarely linear. He finished 2025 outside the top 40 in the world and dropped further this spring. Then, almost all of a sudden, he led the field in Strokes Gained: Putting on Saturday and Sunday, making over 250 feet of putts and boat-racing the field to a score of 30 under.

Asked afterward about how he did it, Clark said he was in a zone, but a different one than in his past victories. He called it a “calm zone” and admitted it was a bit weird. But that’s the same word he used numerous times at the Masters last month: calm. Calmness with life off the golf course. Calmness arriving for the first round and the final round. Calm enough to just go out, hit golf shots, and maybe make everything.

“Here it just almost felt like I was playing at home,” Clark said, “and every hole was a new hole. I didn’t worry that I just made six birdies or that I needed to make more. I just was like, all right, I have this 20-footer. I see it left edge, and I’d hit it, and it would go in.”

Wyndham Clark’s first PGA Tour win in two years is also his first as a gear free agent.

Clark’s endorsement deal with Titleist ended at the end of 2025, and all season he has embraced his newfound equipment freedom. No changes have been more prevalent than the ones made to his driver and putter.

The 2023 U.S. Open champion began the season by using four different drivers in his first five events, but eventually settled on the TaylorMade Qi4D. He actually made a change to the driver this week, tweaking the lie angle and switching to a new, unreleased Project X Titan Yellow shaft.

Clark initially settled on the Qi4D, then with the Titan Black shaft, thanks to increased spin consistency, specifically not over-spinning and causing a right miss. However, Clark wanted to dial in his driver to favor a touch more accuracy this week, even if it meant sacrificing a bit of distance.

TaylorMade found an answer with the new Titan Yellow and slightly more upright setting.

“It was probably spinning 100-200 RPM more than he would want but with the consistency of the Qi4D head at that lie angle creates more accuracy which is what he was looking for,” TaylorMade Tour Rep Adrian Rietveld said. “I was happy with him playing that because he’s long enough at his ball speed and if he can get more fairways he doesn’t need the distance.”

He gained more than four strokes off the tee at TPC Craig Ranch, good for 6th in the field. It’s the first non-contract win for the Qi4D driver.

Clark also plays a Qi4D Tour 3-wood, which he added to his bag at the Masters, that is built to match the original spec of his driver.

Once he settled on the top end of the bag, Clark cycled through a few different putters before landing on Ping’s Scottsdale TEC Ally Blue Onset. Clark switched to the Ally Blue at the Houston Open after showing up at the Players Championship with a putter he bought in the pro shop of his home club.

But he loved the five degrees of toe hang on the Ally Blue Onset, which helped counteract his left miss with low torque putters. He switched to a counterbalanced version at the RBC Heritage and was positive in Stokes Gained: Putting in his first two events with it.

He led the field this week by picking up more than 12.5 strokes on the greens.

For more on Clark’s detailed setup, keep reading below.

Wyndham Clark’s winning clubs at the 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson

Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D 10.5
FCT Setting: Upright One Click toward lower
Front TAS Weights: 9g heel, 3g toe
Back TAS Weights: 9g heel, 3g toe
Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 60 TX
Length: 45″ CUT
Tipping: 1″
Swingweight: D3

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TaylorMade Qi4D Custom Driver

SHAPED FOR SPEED

The re-engineered head profile increases ball speed thanks to improved aerodynamics developed through advanced simulations.

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60x Carbon Twist Face™ is a technological cornerstone that provides weight savings, incredible ball speed and more consistency vs. a titanium face.

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ADJUSTABLE PERFORMANCE

4° loft sleeve can be used to adjust loft, lie and face angle for optimized flight.

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New and improved cut-through Speed Pocket™ protects ball speed and reduces spin on low-face strikes.
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ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA TOUR Superstore, TaylorMade

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Project X Titan Black Wood Shaft

You can only evolve so many times. Then you have to reinvent.
Designed and engineered in our R&D Lab in San Diego, CA, Titan Black is built to meet the demands of today’s faster, more aggressive swingers. A more elastic handle section progressively firms through the mid and tip, delivering a smooth feel with added stability where it matters most. Synex Technology utilizes multi-axial carbon fibers to reinforce the shaft’s outer structure, increasing hoop stiffness from the handle through the mid-section for efficient energy transfer and enhanced control. By blending feel and stability, Titan Black gives players the confidence to swing faster without sacrificing dispersion or consistency.

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3-Wood: TaylorMade Qi4D Tour 15.0˚
Shaft: Project X Titan Black 80 TX

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TaylorMade Qi4D Tour Custom Fairway Wood

MATERIAL ADVANTAGE

Advanced Multi-Material Construction combines the most effective engineering techniques with the finest materials to create one of our longest moveable weight fairways.
The Titanium Qi4D Tour fairway is designed for golfers who seek the ultimate weapon to conquer long par 5s and to thread the needle of the narrowest of tee shots.

ADJUSTABLE PERFORMANCE

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Utilizing three Trajectory Adjustment System weights (15g x 1 / 4g x 2) provides the golfer the most mass efficient way to adjust shot shape and spin.
4° loft sleeve can be used to adjust loft, lie and face angle for optimized flight.

CG OPTIMIZATION

Engineers were able to improve launch without adding spin due to the use of an ultralightweight titanium body and advanced CAD model simulations. This result is a fairway that is easy to launch with incredible distance from any lie.
A large 60g tungsten mass pad moves the center of gravity extremely low and forward, creating a hot trajectory for more distance.

TOUR-PROVEN TECHNOLOGIES

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New and improved cut-through Speed Pocket™ protects ball speed and reduces spin on low-face strikes.
Advanced CAD modeling creates a design with a clean and powerful sound, a foundation of TaylorMade fairway performance.
Twist Face™ features corrective face curvature is designed to provide straighter shots on mishits.

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5-wood: Ping G440 Max 19.0˚
Actual Loft: 17˚
Ping Trajectory 2.0 Setting: Big Minus (—)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Gen 4 Black 90 TX
Length: 41″
Tipping: 2.5″

PING G440 Max Custom Fairway Wood

The G440 fairway family (MAX, LST, SFT) advances PING’s reputation as a Tour-preferred model of choice through a re-designed face structure and low CG system. The face is taller for more confidence off the tee while maintaining a CG location that delivers high- launching performance off the ground. The MAX model (which fits most golfers) is available in five lofts (including a new 4-wood) to provide more gapping solutions. 
HIGH MOI
Easy to launch, stable design increases forgiveness. 
FLEXING FACE
Maraging steel face flexes for more ball speed, optimizes spin. 
TALLER FACE PROFILE
Improves performance off the tee, maintains low CG. 
FREE-HOSEL DESIGN
Saves weight to lower CG, optimize launch/spin and increase forgiveness. 

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Irons: Titleist ’23 T200 4-5, Titleist ’25 T100 6-9
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X7

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Titleist 2025 T100 Custom Irons

Unmatched precision meets unrivaled feel with T100 Irons. Fully forged with more aggressive grooves in the mid/short irons, T100 offers pure player’s feel with improved consistency in variable conditions. Now with higher long-iron launch for optimal trajectory control in every club.
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Split High-Density Tungsten produces optimal CG with remarkable stability for precise shotmaking.
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New VFT technology and progressive groove design for consistent spin and speed across the face in variable conditions.
Elevated Long-Iron Launch 
Lower CG and a new muscle channel help improve peak height and carry. 

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Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM11
Lofts/Grinds: 44.10F, 50.12F, 54.14F, WedgeWorks 60L
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X7 (44), S400 (50-60)

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Putter: Ping Scottsdale TEC Ally Blue Onset CB
Loft: 3˚
Lie: 70˚
Length: 38″
Headweight: 385g (17g tip weight)
Insert: PEBAX
Grip: SuperStroke

PING Scottsdale TEC Ally Blue Onset Custom Putter

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Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord, Golf Pride Z-Grip Cord

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Golf Pride Z-Grip Cord Swing Grip

Z-Grip Cord Swing Grip The Z-Grip® Cord is the firmest cord grip available from Golf Pride. Combining two layers of texturing for feedback and control, the Z-Grip features a deep “Z”-shaped texture pattern that winds vertically around the grip for control, while a heavy cord texture throughout provides moisture management. This design pattern is enhanced with a white end cap and distinctive white body paint fill. Now available in Midsize. ALL-WEATHER CONTROL Moisture-wicking brushed cotton cord for added stability and traction in all conditions. MAXIMUM SURFACE TEXTURE “Z”-shaped texture pattern provides superior traction and channels moisture away from the hands. FIRM FEEL Our firmest grip maximizes feedback at impact. Specifications: Grip Size: Standard, Midsize Core Size: 60 Round

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Ball: 2019 Titleist Pro V1x

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Titleist Pro V1x 2025 Special Play # Golf Balls

THE GREATEST COMBINATION OF SPEED, SPIN AND FEEL For players who prioritize total performance, with higher flight and higher spin. New faster high gradient core Speed amplifying high-flex casing layer Spherically-tiled 348 tetrahedral dimple design Soft cast urethane elastomer cover Product Features New faster high gradient dual core delivers more speed and iron and wedge spin for more control Low long game spin from a speed amplifying high-flex casing layer Penetrating and consistent flight from a spherically-tiled 348 tetrahedral dimple design Excellent greenside spin from a soft cast urethane elastomer cover Player Benefits Extraordinary Distance Increased Drop-and-Stop™ control Low long game spin High trajectory More consistent flight Soft feel What’s New – (what performance attributes have improved) 2025 Pro V1 and Pro V1x produce more speed off the tee, more control with irons, more spin with wedges and more opportunity to shoot lower scores. Player Profile For players who prioritize total performance, with higher flight and higher spin. Available Colors and Play Numbers White golf balls are available with play numbers 1-4, 5-8, and all the same play number 00 or 1- 99. High optic yellow golf balls are available with play numbers 1-4. Not available for purchase or shipment to Australia.

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Check in every week for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the hottest topics in the sport, and join the conversation by tweeting us at @golf_com. This week, our writers discuss news on the distance debate and try to make sense of Scottie Scheffler’s 2026 season.

One topic we never discussed in this space after the PGA Championship was that Cameron Young was playing with a ball that would reportedly conform under the new rollback guidelines set to take place in 2028. Our Sean Zak recently wrote how the rollback debate lines up to become golf’s next civil war. For those not into the weeds on this topic, why did the golf ball news at the PGA create such a stir and what’s at stake going forward?

Jessica Marksbury, senior editor (@jess_marksbury): The fact that this ball would reportedly be conforming, is currently in-play by one of the game’s biggest stars and can still be absolutely crushed by said star is … really interesting! I think many of us felt that the rollback would equal significant distance loss. So who knows? I guess it’s still early days. What will pro golf look like if, say, the PGA Tour rejects the rollback, and we have the four majors and USGA championships played with rolled-back balls, but no other tournaments? Is that even a possibility? Time will tell. And as Sean mentioned in his story, the coming months will likely reveal more.

Josh Sens, senior writer (@joshsens): The news was enough to give pause to those on either side of the debate. For those opposed to a rollback, it seemed like evidence that any hand-wringing was much ado about nothing — because Young, after all, is still murdering the ball and seeing plenty of success. For those in favor of a rollback, it seemed to suggest that the proposed changes probably aren’t going far enough — because Young, after all, is still murdering the ball and seeing plenty of success. What’s at stake going forward? Profits more than performance is my guess. 

Josh Schrock, associate news editor (@schrock_and_awe): Sens nailed it. The news about Young’s ball made waves because he has been hitting the ball a mile and racking up wins. So, if the ball Young is using would conform to the rollback standards, it’s clearly not doing enough for those who want rollback and shows those opposed to the idea that this whole endeavor is kind of farcical. It’s not a secret that the ball needs to be rolled back, and probably in a bigger way than is already being proposed. But will the five families find a way to get to the place the game needs to be?

About a week after the Young story dropped, GOLF reported the PGA Tour sent a 13-question survey to PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour members on the issue of distance in golf and if the proposed USGA and R&A rollback is necessary. How much influence do you think the pros have on this topic going forward? And will it be enough to shape the future of the game?

Marksbury: I don’t know. On the surface, it seems like they have a lot of power, but if they want to compete, they will ultimately be subject to whatever the governing bodies decide to do.

Sens: I’m sure they have some influence, but far less than the manufacturers. And then there’s Augusta National, which will do whatever it wishes and possibly sooner than the rest of the game.

Schrock: They have influence over how the rules are enacted on their tour, but their say is minimal when it comes to the USGA, R&A and Augusta National. As Sens pointed out, I expect Fred Ridley, especially after his presser ahead of this year’s Masters, to set the pace.

In the days after Garrick Higgo was late for his PGA Championship tee time, penalized two strokes and missed the cut by one, Higgo and caddie Austin Gaugert parted ways. Gaugert took to social media to say, “as a caddie, you try to do everything you can to prepare your player for competition and I fell short of that.” While we don’t know all the details behind this incident, who should the blame typically fall on for these types of mistakes: caddie or player?

Marksbury: This is kind of tough. On one hand, a Tour caddie’s sole purpose is to support his player to the best of his abilities. On the other, showing up on time at the 1st tee is the most basic thing the game asks of you. So, without knowing the general dynamic between these two, I say it’s 70 percent Higgo’s fault, 30 percent Gaugert’s. I mean, Gaugert was on the tee at the right time. Higgo wasn’t.

Sens: If Gaugert had taken Higgo hostage and prevented him from getting to the 1st tee, I might be inclined to hold him responsible. Otherwise, I’d say this one is on the player.

Schrock: It’s a major. Be on the tee early. 

The PGA of America, one week after holding its biggest annual event of the year, announced its president, Don Rea, has been replaced as president by Nathan Charnes, who will serve as acting president. In a statement, the PGA of America said the move “followed a series of issues over time that, taken together, were determined to be detrimental to the Association.” Rea made headlines for some comments he made during the 2025 Ryder Cup, although given that was several months ago. Are you surprised he’s gone, or surprised the PGA waited this long?

Marksbury: I’m not surprised on either front. I’m sure there were protocols and investigations to get through, so the PGA opted to take its time in ultimately making the call.

Sens: My guess is that this was decided some time ago but acted on slowly partly for HR reasons and partly for optics — to avoid the appearance of acting rashly in response to public outcry. 

Schrock: Not surprised. His press conference at last year’s PGA was a disaster. Then came the Ryder Cup. They pushed him to the background and made the announcement the week after the PGA so they didn’t have to answer questions about it at the press conference. 

Wyndham Clark won the CJ Cup Byron Nelson on Sunday, and Scottie Scheffler, who started the day two off the lead, finished in third. While Scheffler won his first start of the season and has compiled six top 10s since, he still hasn’t won for a second time. How do we start differentiating between a bunch of stacked up missed opportunities vs. simply playing good-but-not-winning golf?

Marksbury: It’s so hard to win, and certainly even harder to win consistently over the course of several years, as Scottie has done. I think we’re seeing a bit of the Tiger effect with him — our expectations are so high, we’re surprised every time he gets within striking distance and doesn’t collect a W. So, am I worried about Scottie? No. I can only imagine that every finish that falls short is fuel to his fire for the next one. 

Sens: Both Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods had winless droughts of more than two years in their primes. Scheffler is going to be just fine. But it would definitely help his cause if his putter heated up.

Schrock: He won a ton in 2023 and then cooled off in 2024 while still playing great golf. He racked up a ton of wins last year, and this year his putter has been a little cooler and his iron game not as precise. He’s still a poor Friday at Augusta from probably winning the Masters, and I think he should’ve won the PGA if his putter had been neutral. The game ebbs and flows, and he’s still the best player in the world. He’ll probably win Memorial in two weeks.