U.S. Open leader Wyndham Clark says Canadian fans ‘maybe crossed the line’

At last week's RBC Canadian Open Clark wore a Team U.S.A. Jack Hughes hockey jersey at the tournament's Rink Hole, and didn't go over well.

Published Jun 19, 2026  •  Last updated 1 hour ago  •  3 minute read

Wyndham Clark (left) walks off the 18th green after his second round at the U.S. Open. Getty Images

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SOUTHHAMPTON, N.Y. — Wyndham Clark is trying to run away from the field at the U.S. Open, but just a few days ago he was doing his best to get run out of Canada.

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At last week’s RBC Canadian Open Clark wore a Team U.S.A. Jack Hughes hockey jersey at the tournament’s famous Rink Hole, and it went over about just as well as you’d expect. The 2023 U.S. Open champion said fans went over the line on Sunday at TPC Toronto, although admitted he brought it on himself.

The original plan began before the tournament even started.

“On Wednesday, I got to the 14th hole. I was with my manager and caddie, I’m, like, oh man, we should have a USA jersey,” Clark said after scorching Shinnecock for two days to reach seven-under par. “This would be perfect. So, we looked to try to overnight. It was just too difficult to get it into Canada. It wasn’t going to happen.”

As fate would have it, the perfect jersey for his plan appeared right in front of him.

“On Friday on my 12th hole, I see a guy wearing a Hughes jersey, so I finished my putt, beeline it up to him and ask him if I could buy his jersey to wear it on 14,” he said. “He was, like, hell, yeah. We met after the round, paid him 200 bucks, got his address. I’m going to send it back to him.”

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How did Canadian fans react?

Turns out, it was a little too soon for Canadian fans.

“I put it on in the tunnel, walked out, got a bunch of grief, which I knew I was going to do. Then fortunately, I followed it up with a birdie. That was awesome.” Clark said.

The rude reception didn’t end on Friday though, as fans continued to let him have it right through the weekend. In Clark’s opinion fans finally crossed the line late Sunday afternoon when he was playing in alongside winner Bud Cauley.

“I loved the banter. It maybe crossed the line on 18. You know, they were yelling in my backswing,” he said. “I felt more bummed for Bud because Bud was trying to win a tournament, and it seemed like the banter almost took away from his limelight. I was a little bummed about that.”

You live and you learn, and for Clark, it’s been a career of that. the 32-year-old American is looking to win his second U.S. Open championship this week at Shinnecock after coming under serious fire at last year’s U.S. Open where he took his frustrations out on the locker room at Oakmont. It was an outburst that earned him a suspension from the famed private club in Pennsylvania and drew him nearly universal scorn for his antics.

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“I’ve gotten a lot of grief since last year, rightfully so,” he said on Friday. “The thing that’s unfortunate is that’s not who I am.”

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“I’m hoping I can win back the fans that I had or some new fans because it was a terrible incident,” he added. “You know, I really feel like I can show people that I’m fun and outgoing, I’m fierce, competitive, love the game, respect the game, and I just had a bad moment. Hopefully I can win those people back.”

Clark says he has been working hard on both his game as well as his attitude and dealing with his emotions over the past year.

“Yeah, I definitely feel like I’m in a better place. Hopefully a great weekend and great rest of the year, maybe I’ll gain all those fans back.”

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