Wyndham Clark was caught up in some controversy on the 2024 Presidents Cup.
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Relating to Wyndham Clark, informal golf followers could be forgiven for pondering of him has a quiet, soft-spoken professional with a vanilla persona. However he’s not.
The final two seasons have proven Clark to be an opinionated, outspoken and hyper-competitive participant. In 2023, Clark captured his first win on the Wells Fargo in Might, then broke by way of for a significant victory on the U.S. Open at Los Angeles Nation Membership.
After making his U.S. crew debut on the 2023 Ryder Cup, Clark was within the warmth of the battle eventually month’s Presidents Cup, and he acquired concerned with the occasion’s most controversial second.
That Tom Kim controversy? Wyndham Clark says there’s extra to the story
Throughout a late Saturday match between Individuals Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay and Internationals Tom Kim and Si Woo Kim, Tom Kim accused U.S. gamers watching the match from the sidelines of “cursing at us.”
Then Worldwide crew member Ben An referred to as out Clark instantly on Twitter, and Clark fired again with a quip of his personal.
This week, Clark confirmed his opinionated aspect when he joined the No Laying Up podcast and acquired onto what has been probably the most controversial topic in professional golf over the previous few years: LIV Golf.
One of many present hot-button subjects is that if and the way LIV gamers ought to be allowed to return to the PGA Tour as soon as an settlement is finalized between the Tour and PIF.
Within the interview, Clark informed No Laying Up that he helps some LIV execs returning to their roots on Tour, however not all of them. The first distinction between the 2 teams? Their Tour “pedigree.”
“It relies on who it’s,” Clark informed No Laying Up. “Guys which have had the profession the place they need to be lifelong PGA Tour gamers, they deserve the best to return play the PGA Tour.”
He continued: “If Dustin Johnson desires to return again and Phil Mickelson and guys which have received, Brooks, who’ve received majors and are more than likely Corridor of Famers, they should play wherever the hell they need, as a result of they’re so good.”
Caddie says U.S. gamers cursed at, ‘acquired very private’ with Tom Kim at Presidents Cup
However as for gamers who will not be family names and don’t have many glittering trophies of their properties, Clark expressed hesitation on letting them come again to the Tour.
“Guys that possibly left and didn’t have that pedigree and profession,” Clark mentioned, “these are the fellows I wrestle with as a result of they made their determination.”
Clark additionally revealed that if gamers knew they might “take the cash” from LIV and nonetheless play PGA Tour occasions, “all of us would have accomplished that.”
This isn’t the primary time Clark has commented on LIV Golf for the reason that upstart league’s inception in 2022.
After his win on the abbreviated AT&T Pebble Seashore Professional-Am, the place the match was referred to as after 54 holes attributable to unhealthy climate, Clark admitted he had severely thought-about a suggestion from LIV however declined to as a substitute pursue his lifelong objective of successful PGA Tour occasions.
“I in the end declined going to LIV as a result of I felt like I nonetheless have a variety of issues left within the tank on the PGA Tour and I needed to chase data, I needed to chase world rating,” Clark mentioned following his win. “My dream is to attempt to be one of many high gamers on this planet if not the highest participant. I simply grew up all the time imagining successful PGA Tour occasions. So in the end, I selected my legacy over LIV and that’s actually what it got here all the way down to.”
Then on the Masters, Clark took a delicate shot at LIV Golf and its gamers. After struggling to a one-over 73 within the opening spherical, Clark quipped, “You understand we’ve acquired 54 holes [left]. In LIV Golf they solely play 54, so I like my possibilities.”
You may hearken to Clark’s full interview with the No Laying Up podcast right here.
