‘Kind of dead out there’: Wyndham Clark criticizes U.S. fans at Presidents Cup

Wyndham Clark criticized American fans after the opening day of the Presidents Cup, saying it was “kind of dead out there” at Medinah.

On Wednesday, ahead of the event, the reigning U.S. Open champion said he hoped fans would not root against him as they had at the U.S. Open in June. On Thursday, Clark teamed with Collin Morikawa to beat the formidable International pair of Adam Scott and Ryan Fox, 3 and 2, in four-ball.

Clark made five birdies over 16 holes, but said the American team lost momentum in the middle of the match and struggled to extend its lead.

“Sometimes it is tough in match play getting up three. We had a couple chances to get up four. You can kind of get into a little bit of a lull. Maybe I did for a couple of holes. We just didn’t make putts kind of in the middle part of the round,” Clark said.

He then linked the lull to a lack of support from the galleries.

“Yeah, the momentum was on our side early. I do want — and these guys are going to laugh, but it was kind of dead out there,” Clark said. “I felt like the momentum could have been better, to be honest, because we weren’t really feeling the fans, I think, as much as normal.”

Clark said American fans were barely reacting even to quality shots.

“There was a few shots — I mean, Collin hit a 5-wood on, what was it, 11 to like 10 feet, and we didn’t even know if it was on the green because no one clapped. It was a little surprising. We’d make some big putts,” Clark said.

Clark explained that he was airing his frustration publicly to challenge U.S. fans to support their team more during the rest of the week.

“I’m saying this more as a challenge that hopefully tomorrow and the weekend the fans are out there really rooting us on, and regardless of what happens, we have the momentum,” Clark said.

‘I was obviously pissed I didn’t make the team’

Clark’s comments about quiet fans were especially striking in light of last year’s Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black. Large groups of unruly spectators harassed European players and their families, drawing condemnation throughout the golf world.

The International team made no such complaints on Thursday, as spectators at Medinah behaved respectfully.

Clark was not part of last year’s Ryder Cup. On Wednesday, he admitted that he did not watch the first two days because he was “pissed” he had failed to qualify for the U.S. team.

“Yeah, I was obviously pissed I didn’t make the team. I didn’t watch the first couple days because I was a little sour about it, not because I didn’t get the pick, it was just more that I had such a bad year,” Clark explained.

He did watch on Sunday as the U.S. team mounted a furious comeback in singles, and used that experience as motivation to make this year’s Presidents Cup team.

“Then as the guys were making a comeback on Sunday, I watched. Of course I’m friends with all these guys, and I was rooting for them hard. Yeah, it’s always a motivation to make the teams. I was really happy I made this team, and I’m hoping this is one of many,” Clark said.

The effect of Clark’s comments on American fan support will become clearer as the Presidents Cup continues.