Wyndham Clark Calls Out American Fans for 'Dead' Atmosphere at Presidents Cup

Wyndham Clark, a key player for Team USA, has called out American fans for what he described as a "kind of dead" atmosphere during the first day of the Presidents Cup at Medinah Country Club. The United States team is seeking to defend the trophy they won two years prior against the International team.

Clark, who is participating in the Presidents Cup following a career-best season that included two U.S. Open victories, stated that the crowd's energy was surprisingly subdued. "I felt like the momentum could have been better, to be honest, because we weren't really feeling the fans, I think, as much as normal," Clark remarked after winning his fourball match with Collin Morikawa 3&2 against Ryan Fox and Adam Scott. He cited an example where a well-executed shot by Morikawa to within 10 feet of the pin on the 11th hole was met with minimal reaction. "We didn't even know if it was on the green because no one clapped," Clark added.

The subdued atmosphere contrasted sharply with the intense and sometimes volatile environment experienced at the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black. Clark issued a challenge to the fans, hoping for a more energetic and supportive crowd for the remainder of the tournament. "I'm saying this more as a challenge that hopefully tomorrow and the weekend the fans are out there really rooting us on, and regardless of what happens, we have the momentum," he said.

Clark has previously been a controversial figure in American golf, notably after an incident at Oakmont Country Club in 2025. Despite facing criticism in the past, he expressed a desire to change his public image and hopes to be more widely supported by fans.

Team USA captain Brandt Snedeker acknowledged Clark's comments and the unusual atmosphere. "It was a weird day," Snedeker said. "I really felt like the fans were out there and they were there, but the 1st tee was loud, and then it just kind of dissipated as the day went on. I don't know why."

Snedeker suggested that the challenging course setup, with difficult pin positions, might have contributed to fewer opportunities for birdies and thus less crowd excitement. "You've got guys going crazy, I guess. And there's some tough viewing out there on some of the holes where people really couldn't see what was going on," he explained. He expressed confidence that the home crowd would become more vocal as the event progresses, stating, "I know what Chicago is built of. I know what kind of fans we've got here. They'll come out tomorrow. We've just got to go out and play good golf."

Despite Clark's observations, Team USA held a narrow 3-2 lead over the International team after the first day of play. Other results included World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns securing a close win in their fourball match, while Tom Kim and Si Woo Kim of the International team also won their matchup.