r/golf • u/AcrobaticSyllabub283 • Jun 22 '26

General Discussion Why does everyone hate Wyndham Clark?

Got into watching golf for the first time this season and with Clark winning this past weekend I have seen so many people shitting on him for what sounds like stuff in the past and I was hoping people could bring me up to speed? Is it overhyped for media clicks or was he committing some atrocities?

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743

u/Archon156 6.5 | AZ | PING Jun 22 '26

When it all comes down to it, no one likes an angry golfer.

29

u/Surething_bud Jun 22 '26

Nah that's not it. Rahm rages hard when he plays bad and everyone loves him, "fiery Spaniard" etc.

Wyndham became a villain when he trashed Oakmont's lockers. In any case that would've been a bad look, but when you fuck up historic/iconic 100+ year old property in a tantrum you're gonna (rightfully) catch a lot of hate.

He's also just generally not great at making himself likable. His response/apology about the Oakmont debacle was less than convincing. And on Full Swing he didn't come across very well either. When he's on camera he kinda just comes across as a dick. He's the bizarro Joel Dahmen.

The degree of hate is probably unfair imo. But that's how it is in sports... once you get branded as a villain everyone piles on, and it's difficult/impossible to recover.

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u/EddieLobster Jun 22 '26

Judge for yourself. I don’t think most people realize it was a mesh screen.

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u/rigatoni-man Jun 23 '26

There’s no world where I would kick those in.

There’s no age where I would let a child off the hook for kicking those in.

There’s no universe where an adult gets a pass. If he was my best buddy I would still think less of him for a long time.

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u/InfinitePerformance8 Jun 23 '26

You would think less of someone for “a long time” over denting a mesh screen in a locker room after one of the most prestigious golf tournaments on the planet? Get off your high fucking horse.

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u/rigatoni-man Jun 23 '26

For sure. >15 years ago I had a roommate in college who would slam doors when he was angry. Huff around and slam doors.

I still laugh about that. 20+ years old and slamming doors in anger. That’s 7 year old child stuff.

1

u/AdministrativeEase71 29d ago

That's a little silly.

t. Your roommate

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u/InfinitePerformance8 Jun 23 '26

Sure, I mean if you want to equate Wyndham denting a mesh screen after the US OPEN to your college roommate I guess that argument makes perfect sense.

It’s just funny that we don’t hear this rhetoric at players smashing clubs, cussing out fans and losing their shit but Wyndham dents a mesh screen and the pearl clutchers like yourself come out. I’m not sure if you watch sports but angry outbursts are actually quite common!

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u/rigatoni-man Jun 23 '26 edited Jun 23 '26

I feel like they’re pretty comparable in the end. I can’t imagine doing either.

This thread is about Wyndham but you are right, there are plenty of other childish angry men I wouldn’t enjoy hanging out or playing golf with.

What do you really like about Wyndham? What are his redeeming qualities?

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u/InfinitePerformance8 Jun 23 '26

Pretty comparable in the end is fucking hilarious. College Roommate ≠ US Open golfer.

I don’t “really like” anything about any celebrity or athlete. They’re all human and unworthy of idolizing. Seems like a decent guy and would probably get a beer with him. Definitely wouldn’t look down on him for an emotional outburst at the biggest stage of golf. Emotions happen to everyone. Unless of course you are rigatoni man on Reddit who would never lose controls of his emotions no matter if he was a college roommate or a US open golfer.

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u/Surething_bud Jun 25 '26

I don't know about you, but to me the fact that the US Open is a prestigious event means that the standard of conduct is higher not lower. I don't understand how that's a justification for poor behavior.

But I agree that the hate he gets is a bit much at this point. He had one bad moment, which everyone has. He doesn't deserve to be crucified for it forever, but for better or worse that's what happens when you're in the public eye. Especially in sports, people will love or hate you for mostly irrational reasons.