What should have been one of the greatest moments of Wyndham Clark’s career quickly turned into one of the most controversial Sundays in U.S. Open history.
Instead of celebrating brilliant golf, spectators witnessed police officers escorting fans off the course after repeated heckling targeted Clark throughout the final round. By the end of the day, Clark had captured his second U.S. Open title in three years, but the conversation extended far beyond the leaderboard.
Clark entered Sunday’s final round at Shinnecock Hills holding what appeared to be a comfortable six-shot advantage. With only 18 holes remaining, many expected the tournament to become a victory procession.
Instead, it became a survival test.
From the opening tee shot, Clark faced relentless hostility from sections of the gallery. According to reports from the course and audio captured during NBC’s broadcast, spectators shouted remarks including “Canada hates you,” “Don’t choke,” “Nobody likes you,” and “Let’s not break any lockers today.” The comments continued throughout the afternoon, forcing tournament security and local law enforcement to intervene.
By the fourth hole, at least one spectator had already been removed for yelling during Clark’s backswing. As the round progressed, additional fans were escorted from the property. Reports later indicated that five spectators were eventually ejected before the tournament concluded.
While large galleries routinely support one player over another, many observers believed the atmosphere at Shinnecock crossed a line.
Clark’s playing partner, World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, received enthusiastic birthday celebrations from fans throughout the day. Clark, meanwhile, encountered a dramatically different reception, with cheers following his mistakes and silence greeting many of his best shots.
The hostile atmosphere did not appear overnight.
Much of the criticism surrounding Clark stemmed from several high-profile incidents over the previous year. During the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont, Clark damaged two historic lockers after missing the cut. The club later required him to pay for repairs, contribute to charity, and complete anger-management counseling before restoring his privileges. Clark fulfilled every requirement, but the incident significantly affected his public image.
Weeks earlier, at the 2025 PGA Championship, Clark had also thrown his driver after an errant tee shot, striking a sponsor sign near a volunteer. The incident circulated widely on social media, adding to criticism of his on-course temperament.
Then, just one week before the U.S. Open, Clark stirred controversy at the RBC Canadian Open by wearing a Team USA hockey jersey, prompting backlash from Canadian fans. Many believe that incident directly inspired the “Canada hates you” chants heard during Sunday’s final round.
Another controversy surfaced before the final round even began.
During Saturday’s third round, Clark took a drop on the 17th hole that quickly became a hot topic online. Social media users claimed he had violated the Rules of Golf and should have been penalized. However, the USGA reviewed the situation before Sunday’s play and ruled that Clark’s drop was entirely legal. Despite that decision, many spectators arrived at the course already convinced otherwise.
As Sam Burns mounted an extraordinary comeback from seven shots behind, the atmosphere intensified.
Burns birdied four of his first eight holes while Clark stumbled with three bogeys over his opening six holes, shrinking the lead to a single stroke. Every Burns birdie was greeted with thunderous applause, while Clark often heard cheers after his mistakes rather than his successes.
Despite the mounting pressure, Clark delivered when it mattered most.
A superb wedge shot on the 10th hole led to a momentum-changing birdie. Another clutch birdie on the 16th restored breathing room, and although he bogeyed the 17th, Clark calmly secured par on the final hole to finish at four-under-par, one stroke ahead of Burns.
After lifting the trophy, Clark openly acknowledged the difficult atmosphere.
“New York didn’t really like me,” he admitted during his television interview. “I get it. Some of it is self-deserved. I did some unfortunate things last year that I really regret, and I’ve apologized multiple times. Hopefully I can win you guys over eventually.”
During his full press conference, Clark elaborated further.
“It’s pretty rare in a major championship to have fans cheering against your shots or cheering when you hit bad ones,” he said. “That was tough.”
Clark also revealed that he and longtime caddie Dave Pelz had tried to lighten the mood during the round by joking whenever they heard someone actually cheering for him.
“If someone clapped for me,” Clark joked, “I’d say, ‘There’s one person who likes me.'”
When asked whether this second U.S. Open victory might help change public perception, Clark expressed hope that the controversy surrounding him would finally begin to fade.
“I sure hope it closes the door on it,” he said. “I hope I don’t become the heel of the PGA Tour.”
Even Scottie Scheffler addressed the crowd’s behavior afterward.
“The crowd was tough today,” Scheffler said. “Sometimes it can get a little too much when balls are going off greens and you start hearing cheers.”
Although Scheffler acknowledged that passionate crowds are part of major championships, he praised Clark for maintaining his composure under extraordinary pressure and described him as a deserving champion.
By the time Clark holed the winning putt, he had overcome far more than one of golf’s toughest courses.
He had survived relentless heckling, repeated controversy, public scrutiny, and one of the most hostile galleries seen at a modern major championship.
Whether the USGA will take further action regarding spectator behavior remains uncertain.
What is certain is that the 2026 U.S. Open will be remembered not only for Wyndham Clark’s second national championship—but also for the extraordinary scenes that forced police officers onto the course during one of golf’s biggest events.
