Golf influencer Paige Spiranac has voiced her strong disapproval of the treatment Wyndham Clark received from fans during the recent U.S. Open, stating that the criticism directed at the golfer has "been taken too far."
Spiranac, who has known Clark since they were both 12 years old and boasts over one million followers on X, expressed her bewilderment at the negative sentiment surrounding the golfer. "The hate for Wyndham Clark doesn’t make sense to me," Spiranac wrote on social media. "People complain constantly that golfers are boring and show no emotion. But then you have someone who has a fiery, competitive spirit, and that’s also a problem."
The "fiery emotion" Spiranac referenced appeared to stem from an incident in 2025 where Clark smashed lockers at Oakmont after missing the cut by a single stroke. He was subsequently suspended until he paid for the damage, made a charitable contribution, completed anger management, and issued a public apology.
Following this, fans at Shinnecock Hills were reportedly harsh towards the American golfer, yelling taunts such as "don't choke Wyndham" and "get in the bunker" before or during his swings, and cheering when he executed poor shots. Spiranac commented on this pattern, stating, "I understand the need for a villain in sports but beating people down for every little mistake especially after they took accountability is just tiresome. I just feel that it’s been taken too far at this point."
Other professional golfers have echoed Spiranac's sentiments. Both Scottie Scheffler and Keegan Bradley indicated they were surprised by the reception Clark encountered. Bradley suggested that the sport's growth and the influx of "a different group of people coming to these tournaments" may have contributed to a new atmosphere.
Spiranac observed a broader trend, noting, "There has been a shift in recent years where people have become downright nasty." She speculated on potential causes, adding, "Maybe it’s exhaustion from life beating us all down or the lack of consequences of being hateful online. But it’s noticeable."