Wyndham Clark reportedly took out his frustrations over a brutal US Open course on the lockers at Oakmont.
Images circulated on social media of damage to the locker room, with the 2023 US Open champion cited as the culprit, and some fans suggesting he should be banned.
It saw a flurry of criticism from fans, but Graeme McDowell, who won the tournament in 2010, was quick to defend his fellow pro.
“This is minimal compared to what I’ve seen other players do. Players you would never expect,” the Northern Irishman wrote on X. “Oakmont will test any player’s mental fortitude. Seen it in person. Guess who? 2016.”
McDowell’s reference to the last time Oakmont hosted the US Open inevitably backfired and led internet sleuths to try and guess which player he was referring to.
That led the Northern Irishman to backtrack.
“Just to clarify a couple of things from my tweet on Saturday,” he wrote on Monday. “No, I do not condone that type of behavior and damaging property in historic sites like Oakmont.
“I’m sure Wyndham will pay for any damage and apologize to relevant people. I also believe sporting locker rooms are a sanctuary and what happens there, should stay there.
“The part when I said ‘guess who’ was unfair on my part because I would never out a fellow pro in that scenario. What happens in those private sporting areas is not for public consumption in my opinion.”
Clark missed the cut by a single stroke at Oakmont after shooting a four-over-par 74 on Thursday and Friday.
Players battled tough conditions and a brutal course, which led some to lose their heads.
After a poor drive down the 16th, Clark launched his driver at the advertising boards and narrowly missed a marshal.
View Tweet: t.co/DdClg8952U
Clark could face punishment for his actions“As professionals, we are expected to remain professional even when frustrated and I unfortunately let my emotions get the best of me,” he wrote on Instagram. “My actions were uncalled for and completely inappropriate, making it clear that I have things I need to work on.
“I hold myself to a high standard, trying to always play for something bigger than myself, and yesterday I fell short of those standards.
“For that I am truly sorry. I promise to better the way I handle my frustrations on the course going forward, and hope you all can forgive me in due time.”
Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, and Shane Lowry also lost their cool at some point during the tournament, while Tyrell Hatton snapped back at a reporter after his final round. Winner JJ Spaun was the only man to break par over four rounds.
Following his round, Hatton admitted he believed he had been unlucky with his tee shot on 17 and a reporter asked him to explain why.
“Why do you think it was bad luck? What kind of question is that?” Hatton fumed.
“Like, that’s ridiculous. If you’re going to miss that green, you have to miss it right in the bunker. I did my bit. I feel like I was extremely unlucky to finish where it did.
“I feel I’ve missed it in the right spot and got punished, which ultimately I don’t think ends up being fair.
“The finish at the end hurts a lot. What happened on 17 is going to hurt a lot for a long time.
“It was the first time I’ve been in contention in a major, and that was exciting, and unfortunately, I feel like through a bit of bad luck, I had momentum taken away from me and ultimately ended up not being my day.
“It’s hard when you feel like the tournament then just escapes from you right at the end.
“Certainly for me, being the first time in contention at a major, to have that happen right at the end as opposed to like early in the week when you don’t end up knowing if that’s going to cost anything down the line, I’d say at the end of the tournament, that it makes it hurt a lot more.”
The US Open will be back at Oakmont in 2033 with the lockers back in the firing line in what will almost certainly be another tough layout for a tournament that prides itself on being the toughest test in golf.
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