US Open winner Wyndham Clarke admits the crowd ‘didn’t like’ him after he was heckled during the final round. golf news

En route to becoming US Open champion for the second time, American Wyndham Clark had to overcome the unusual challenge of taming a hostile home crowd at Shinnecock Hills.

Clarke completed a wire-to-wire win by holding off Sam Barnes by one shot, but perhaps the biggest talking point to emerge from the final round was how badly a significant portion of the audience wanted the champion to lose.

Clark dealt with shouts of “get in the bunker” after many of his shots, with the cheers also muted when he played a good shot or held putt.

Part of this was because his partner in the final pairing was world number one Scotty Scheffler, who was attempting to complete a career Grand Slam.

However, it wasn’t just about Scheffler’s popularity, the crowd also seemed desperate for Burns to claim a first major title.

Clark’s victory came a year after Oakmont Country Club, the host of last year’s US Open, banned him after he angrily destroyed a locker after being disappointed with his performance at the tournament.

After her win on Sunday, she said: “New York didn’t really like me. I love you, but, you know, I understand.

“Some of it is self-inflicted. I did some unfortunate things last year that I really regret.

“I’ve been sad many times and I’m still sad, so hopefully I can win you guys over in the end.

“But I get it, they root for Scotty. Grand Slams only happen a few times. He’s going to get it. He’s the best player in the world, but today is my day.”

Reed: The atmosphere was strange and surreal

Former European Solheim Cup stalwart Mel Reed was on the course Sky Sports GolfAnd Clark found the atmosphere he encountered “strange and surreal.”

“It couldn’t have been easier for him,” Reed said. “Not only are you trying to win the US Open with a big lead, but when your home crowd is against you. I can only imagine it.

“You expect it in a Ryder Cup, even a European trying to advance in this tournament, but when it’s your own person, it was a very strange, surreal experience for me to be on the course.

“I could hear everything he did because people were cheering the foul shots.”

Sky Sports Golf Nick Dougherty believes that the hostility Clark faced was a reflection of modern society.

“To a degree we live in a world where social media runs rampant,” Dougherty said.

“Yesterday’s chip paper used to have things going forward, but not so much now. Things will resurface in the future.

“The comments he made at The Masters par-three competition, for example, didn’t go down well.

“What he said earlier and his behavior at the US Open last year.

“You can never escape your past again.”

Scheffler: A little more cheers for bad shots

Despite being on the right side of the crowd, Scheffler admitted he thought some of Clark’s treatment was “a little too much,” but credited his rival for winning under pressure.

“The crowd was tough today,” Scheffler said. “New Yorkers, they’re tough people. There was a good turnout from the fans. You like to see the fans cheering for you. I think sometimes it can get a little too much when the balls go off some kind of green and you start hearing the cheers. It felt a little too much to me.

“But, at the end of the day, I can’t control the behavior of the fans. Being on the field is not for everyone. I’ve had crowds for me in my career; I’ve had significant crowds against me in my career.

“I think Portush was a scene for me where Rory (McIlroy) is in his hometown. Or not his hometown; he’s in Ireland, not far from where he grew up. Crowds can be tough.

“Being on the course is not for everyone, and I think that shows a lot about Wyndham, how he not only managed this golf course, but I think the crowd today and is a worthy champion.”

What next?

The PGA Tour heads to TPC River Highlands in Connecticut for the Travelers Championship, the latest signature event, while the DP World Tour heads to Torino for the DS Automobiles Open d’Italia.

Both events will be live on Sky Sports Golf from Thursday, with the final men’s major of the year – the Open at Royal Birkdale – from July 16-19. Get Sky Sports or Flow without any contract.