Denver’s Wyndham Clark banned from Oakmont after smashing locker at U.S. Open | Golf Insider

Britain Golf Scottish Open

While Wyndham Clark was preparing for the final major of the season in Northern Ireland, another story involving the former U.S. Open champ hit the news cycle.

It did not reflect well on the Colorado native.

Several reports Wednesday stated Clark has been banned from the famed Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania. The penalty followed last month’s U.S. Open, during which Clark smashed and damaged a locker after missing the cut.

The Valor Christian graduate is currently preparing for the British Open at Royal Portrush and has not made a public comment on the ban. 

“I made a mistake in a moment of rage with, you know, a bad year and everything coming together, and it just was more than anything a good wake-up call for me to say, ‘Hey, you know what, let’s get back on track and things aren’t that bad,’” Clark said last week during the Genesis Scottish Open.

“I live a great life and I’m not that far off from playing good golf, so I feel like I’ve turned a page and we’re now maybe on the right track of playing some good golf.”

Oakmont Country Club, which will host the U.S. Open again in 2033, has not turned the page.

“Following multiple discussions with the USGA and the OCC Board, a decision has been made that Mr. Clark will no longer be permitted on OCC property,” Oakmont Country Club president John Lynch said in a letter to members. “This decision will remain in effect unless formally reconsidered and approved by the Board.”

According to the letter, the ban could be lifted if Clark pays for damages, makes a “meaningful contribution” to a charity selected by the Oakmont Country Club board and undergoes counseling and/or anger management therapy.

It was not the first such incident for Clark this season on the PGA Tour. During the PGA Championship in May at Quail Hollow, Clark threw his driver and damaged a sign. There were several volunteers in the area as well.

“As professionals, we are expected to remain professional even when frustrated, and I unfortunately let my emotions get the best of me,” Clark said in a statement after the PGA Championship. “My actions were uncalled for and completely inappropriate, making it clear that I have things I need to work on.

“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.”

How Clark deals with anger and his mental health have been well-documented during Netflix’s “Full Swing” documentary. In Season 2, episode 3, the 31-year-old discussed his anger issues while in college and during his amateur career. He also talks about transferring from Oklahoma State to Oregon for a fresh start.

“I’ve had a lot of adversity and challenges thrown my way and I think my story will, I hope, inspire a lot of people and the people that have had similar stuff happen in their life that maybe this is inspiration for them to keep going and anything like that,” Clark said in January.

Clark rose to stardom on the PGA Tour during the 2023 and 2024 seasons. He won the Wells Fargo Championship for his first PGA win and the U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club in 2023. That strong season led him to be part of the Ryder Cup team, and he followed with a win at 2024 Pebble Beach Pro-Am that included a 60 in the third round.

This season has been more of a struggle for Clark. He has only one top-10 finish in 19 starts heading into the British Open. Since winning the U.S. Open, Clark has struggled in majors and never been in contention. He has missed the cut in four of those eight majors.

Clark is paired with Tom Hoge and Corey Conners during the first two rounds of the British Open. They are set to tee off at 3:20 a.m. Thursday and 8:21 a.m. Friday.

***

Fort Collins native Dillion Stewart wins second start
on PGA Tour Americas

It only took two starts for Dillion Stewart to raise a trophy on the PGA Tour Americas.

The Fossil Ridge graduate won the Bromont Open on Monday in Quebec, Canada. He held on for a one-shot victory after going 63-63-66-67 over four rounds to finish at 21-under.

In his other start on PGA Tour Americas, he finished ninth. Stewart won the CHSAA 5A state championship in 2018 and led Fossil Ridge to its first boys golf state title.

***

Chris Korte qualifies for Barracuda Championship

Colorado native Chris Korte is starting to excel in Monday qualifiers.

A week after the University of Denver alum qualified for the Korn Ferry Tour event at TPC Colorado, Korte on Monday took medalist honors in Truckee, Calif., to land a spot in the Barracuda Championship, which begins Thursday.

Korte, who missed the cut at TPC Colorado by two shots, is no stranger to PGA Tour events. The Barracuda Championship. He has played in the Black Desert Championship, Farmers Insurance Open and Puerto Rico Open in the past year.

The Barracuda Championship will feature several players with Colorado ties. Former CU Buffs Jeremy and Yannik Paul are set to play, as is Colorado Academy graduate Mark Hubbard.

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Xander Schauffele hits a tee shot at Castle Pines Golf Club during the first round of the BMW Championship on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024.






***

What they’re saying

“Putting is always tricky with wind. There’s some holes where the mounds cover the greens and some holes that are more exposed where the wind is going to affect the ball on the green.”

—British Open defending champion Xander Schauffele on the conditions at Royal Portrush 

***

Skins game

Odds to win the British Open

Scottie Scheffler +450

Rory McIlory +700

Jon Rahm +1200

Bryson DeChambeau +2000

Xander Schauffele +2500

Tommy Fleetwood +2600

Ludvig Aberg +2800

Viktor Hovland +3000

Wyndham Clark +12000

***

This week in golf

Royal & Ancient

BRITISH OPEN

Site: Portrush, Northern Ireland.

Course: Royal Portrush GC. Yardage: 7,381, Par: 71.

Prize money: $17 million. Winner’s share: $3.1 million.

Television: Thursday-Friday, Midnight-2 a.m. (Peacock), 2 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (USA Network); Saturday, 3-5 a.m. (USA), 5 a.m.-1 p.m. (NBC); Sunday, 2-5 a.m. (USA), 5 a.m.-Noon (NBC).

Defending champion: Xander Schauffele.

PGA Tour and European Tour

BARRACUDA CHAMPIONSHIP

Site: Truckee, Calif.

Course: Tahoe Mountain Club (Old Greenwood). Yardage: 7,480. Par: 71.

Prize money: $4 million. Winner’s share: $720,000.

Television: Thursday-Sunday, 4-7 p.m. (Golf Channel).

Defending champion: Nick Dunlap.

Korn Ferry Tour

PRICE CUTTER CHARITY CHAMPIONSHIP

Site: Springfield, Mo.

Course: Highland Springs CC. Yardage: 7,115. Par: 72.

Prize money: $1 million. Winner’s share: $180,000.

Television: None.

Previous winner: Matt McCarty.

***

FedEx Cup standings

                             Points Money

1. Scottie Scheffler 4,056 $16,102,883

2. Rory McIlroy 3,219 $15,704,585

3. Sepp Straka 2,583 $9,970,544

4. Justin Thomas 2,254 $9,416,145

5. Russell Henley 2,246 $9,323,406

6. Ben Griffin 2,212 $8,134,502

7. J.J. Spaun 2,097 $10,004,182

8. Harris English 1,732 $5,975,152

9. Tommy Fleetwood 1,717 $6,240,981

10. Keegan Bradley 1,715 $7,079,795

11. Maverick McNealy 1,625 $6,174,535

12. Andrew Novak 1,617 $6,463,219

13. Ludvig Aberg 1,512 $6,570,433

14. Corey Conners 1,475 $5,093,286

15. Nick Taylor 1,438 $4,794,542

16. Collin Morikawa 1,427 $6,996,394

17. Shane Lowry 1,418 $6,186,854

18. Patrick Cantlay 1,275 $4,405,606

19. Brian Harman 1,268 $4,214,093

20. Robert Macintyre 1,254 $5,264,407

21. Sam Burns 1,246 $4,445,733

22. Viktor Hovland 1,202 $4,367,793

23. Hideki Matsuyama 1,199 $5,452,137

24. Justin Rose 1,154 $4,504,219

25. Lucas Glover 1,144 $4,097,203

26. Daniel Berger 1,133 $3,952,999

27. Sungjae Im 1,130 $4,148,217

28. Ryan Fox 1,126 $3,844,647

29. Brian Campbell 1,104 $3,174,659

30. Jacob Bridgeman 1,095 $3,463,183

31. Michael Kim 1,075 $3,466,573

32. Jason Day 1,070 $3,418,361

33. Thomas Detry 1,065 $3,440,190

34. Taylor Pendrith 1,032 $3,449,480

35. Tom Hoge 1,026 $3,957,533

36. Denny McCarthy 971 $3,381,335

37. Cameron Young 964 $3,195,646

38. Aldrich Potgieter 941 $2,950,266

39. Chris Gotterup 884 $2,586,337

40. Si Woo Kim 882 $3,174,844

41. Sam Stevens 882 $3,134,886

42. Ryan Gerard 858 $2,887,522

43. Min Woo Lee 851 $3,068,086

44. Akshay Bhatia 841 $3,132,984

45. Harry Hall 837 $2,625,434

46. Bud Cauley 831 $2,803,843

47. Joe Highsmith 828 $2,764,819

48. Jordan Spieth 819 $2,953,110

49. J.T. Poston 787 $2,499,566

50. Max Greyserman 768 $2,809,758

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