Police at Shinnecock Hills threw out multiple fans for shouting abuse at leader Wyndham Clark during a highly-charged final round of the US Open, it has emerged.
Clark – who is already a US Open champion having won it back in 2023 – held a huge six-shot lead heading into the final day of the major championship on Sunday.
But the 32-year-old suffered a brutal start to his final round in New York, bogeying three of his first seven holes to allow his rivals to dream of a huge late comeback.
Fans on site also appear to have held similar hopes, with Clark’s early collapse leading to multiple fans jeering the leader – seemingly praying for his demise.
Golf reporter Kevin van Valkenburg shared an image of police kicking out one fan, who he claims had shouted ‘Don’t choke Wyndham’ as he set up his tee shot on the fourth hole.
NBC announcers also later confirmed that fans had been removed from the premises at Shinnecock, with some heard shouting ‘get in the bunker’ after one tee shot.
Wyndham Clark received a brutal reaction from fans at Shinnecock Hills on Sunday afternoon
Police kicked out multiple fans for abusing Clark as he struggled during his final US Open round
On the broadcast, they added that the USGA ‘does not condone any of it’.
The behavior of golf fans in New York has long been a point of contention in the sport, especially in the wake of a rowdy Ryder Cup in 2025.
On Sunday, Clark – usually well-supported by American golf fans – immediately found himself as the villain as spectators hoped to get their money’s worth.
He was given an underwhelming reception on the first tee, and it only got more brutal from there as the round continued.
The likes of Sam Burns and Scottie Scheffler were among the chasing pack, with the US Open seemingly destined for an American winner in 2026.
The at-times-abusive scenes on Sunday were a far cry from 24 hours earlier, when Clark himself had bemoaned the ‘flat’ crowds at the end of his third round.
‘It was kind of unfortunate that we’re finishing in the dark and people weren’t really out there because there were some obviously key, big moments,’ Wyndham Clark said following his third round, where he shot an even-par 70.
Clark kisses his girlfriend Emily Tanner during his final round on Sunday in Southampton, NY
There were empty seats visible on Saturday, particularly as play drifted into the evening
‘And it did kind of get a little flat, so yeah, unfortunately.’
Many home viewers have noticed smaller crowds at this year’s tournament, particularly in the grandstands, which had rows of empty seats as Clark, Matt Fitzpatrick, Xander Schauffele and Collin Morikawa finished play on Saturday.
‘Hopefully tomorrow there’s a bunch of fans and stuff, but for me, it’s still really important, and I still felt the moment,’ he added. ‘It’s just maybe unfortunate that there weren’t all the people there.’
Perhaps on Sunday afternoon, he would have been wishing they’d stayed at home.
