Wyndham Clark opens up on smashing locker at US Open

Wyndham Clark says he has "learned a lot" from his outburst of anger at the 2025 US Open. 

The 31-year-old American won the major when it was held at Los Angeles Country Club in 2023 but missed the cut at this year's event at Oakmont. 

Photos emerged of damage caused to a century-old locker by a frustrated Clark at the course in Pittsburgh. 

The golfer was subsequently banned from the property following a backlash from its members and will only be reinstated providing he meets a "number of specific conditions". 

Those include paying for the damage, making a contribution to a charity of the board's choosing and completing counselling and/or anger management sessions. 

Clark addressed the ban in July, explaining that he was "very sorry" and "felt terrible" that he let his temper get the better of him. 

He said Oakmont's terms were reasonable and would make every effort to remedy the situation and hopes he'll be allowed to play when the US Open returns there in 2033. 

Now, he has opened up more in a wide-ranging interview with Golfweek. 

Clark told the publication that what happened at Oakmont was "a kick in the face to say, 'Hey, wake up, let's get back to who I am.'"

"I did something I regret," he said. "I brought it upon myself. Any negative press was self-induced and probably deserved.

"It's a bummer that people don't understand the circumstances and whatnot but at the same time I had to own up to it and it was a great reminder for the rest of the year that, hey, I screwed up. I learned a lot and it got me back to who Wyndham Clark is."

The incident was not the first time Clark hit the headlines for the wrong reasons. 

During the PGA Championship he threw a club in anger after an errant drive and his driver nearly struck a volunteer. 

His poor form was hard to fathom, given that it wasn't too long ago that he appeared to be riding the crest of a wave and among the world's top 10. 

Clark enjoyed a breakout year in 2023. Aside from capturing his first major title, he won the Wells Fargo Championship, recorded eight top-10 finishes and emerged as a genuine rival for Scottie Scheffler. 

He even made his debut for the United States at the 2023 Ryder Cup in Italy. 

Since then, Clark has slipped to 37th in the Official World Golf Ranking. 

"I started spiralling a little bit mentally and my swing got off," he added. "You're searching for stuff, trying something different each week."

He added: "Golf is just tough. You're a top-10 player in the world and you've got a lot of things going on and then you don't play well and the expectations and then you feel like it's slipping away from you. 

"It starts affecting everything outside of golf too. It's just not a good place to be. You don't want to be defined by your golf. 

"But that's the struggle we have out here: You have a score that is put up to your name. I got to a spot where that was everything."

Clark, who also told Golfweek that it was "a bummer" he was overlooked for the 2025 Ryder Cup team as Bethpage Black was perfect for his game, believes that he has now turned a corner. 

He said playing with a chip on his shoulder and something to prove is where he likes to be. 

"It's great to be at the top and ride momentum but there's something about grinding it out and people overlooking you and you stare them down and say, 'I'm going to do this.' 

"When you do that it's very rewarding."