Wyndham Clark doesn't have to be loved, but he does have to be respected after US Open triumph at Shinnecock

Bobby Jones was born on March 17, 1902, in Atlanta, Georgia, and became one of the greatest amateur golfers in history. As a teenager, he reached the third round of the U.S. Amateur at age 14, showing early promise. He went on to win 13 major championships, all as an amateur, a record that still stands. In 1930, Jones achieved the

One of the most fundamental pillars in sports is that every single fan has the right, and maybe even a responsibility of sorts, to pick a side. Sometimes the side you choose wins, and sometimes it loses.

In golf, the latter happens far more often than the former, but sometimes an outlier emerges where the typical formula is flipped on its head, and a player almost nobody latched onto is left standing in the winner's circle all by their lonesome.

Wyndham Clark was that outlier at the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, and it's a role he not only looked comfortable playing across four days and 72 holes of major championship golf, but one he had to play.

Beyond the typical touch of arrogance and brashness that we see from various figures in sports deemed a "villain" by the masses — who it's worth pointing out almost always enjoy success — Clark has well-accounted-for baggage.

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Wyndham Clark of the United States looks on after playing a shot on the 18th hole during the third round of the 126th U.S. OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 20, 2026 in Southampton, New York. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)

During the final round of the 2025 PGA Championship, Clark violently threw his driver behind him after an errant tee shot. The club ended up breaking, and the head of the club went through an advertisement sign