U.S. Open Heckling Escalates
Wyndham Clark Secures U.S. Open Title After Multiple Hecklers Ejected From Course
Key Points
Clark directly addressed the hostility, saying, “I’ve gotten a lot of grief since last year, rightfully so… I’m hoping I can win back the fans that I had or some new fans because it was a terrible incident,” tying the heckling to unresolved fallout from the prior year.
Reporting connected the latest animosity to Clark’s temper issues beyond crowd banter—after he missed the cut, he “smashed a locker in the clubhouse,” creating a target for “galleries with long memories.”
The jeering included reaction to specific shots and moments, not just isolated chants: after Clark’s approach on the 6th trickled off the putting surface, “fans started to clap,” and then, on the next holes, the broadcast captured the crowd’s audible heckling—NBC’s Kevin Kisner noted, “You can really hear that crowd in the background.”
Why Sunday’s crowd was louder than earlier rounds wasn’t just general “bigger crowd” context: one outlet reported the first three days were sparse due to competing local attention and logistics, including that Thursday was “a wash because New York City was too busy celebrating its first NBA title in more than 50 years,” and that Clark was “distracting[ly]” seeing patrons rush off to catch the “last train back to Penn Station,” leading him to ask for a larger Sunday crowd.
Police ejected multiple fans from the final round of the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills on Sunday after spectators repeatedly heckled leader Wyndham Clark during his swing. Golf Digest and Yahoo Sports confirmed the ejections, with taunts including "get in the bunker" and "Don't choke, Wyndham" drawing security intervention while Clark tried to protect a six-shot lead.
The crowd also chanted "Canada hates you" and "Boogeyman's coming," according to Golf Digest. NBC commentator Kevin Kisner noted on air, "You can really hear that crowd in the background." Clark's lead, which stood at six strokes at the start of the day, shrank to a single shot during the front nine.
Clark's Locker Room Meltdown Fuels Fan Anger
The hostility traces directly to the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont. After missing the cut by one stroke, Clark smashed a locker in the clubhouse. The act damaged a century-old facility and led to a formal ban from Oakmont property. Clark was also required to undergo anger management and pay for repairs, according to Daily Mail.
Clark addressed the fallout directly on Sunday. "I've gotten a lot of grief since last year, rightfully so," he said. "I'm hoping I can win back the fans that I had or some new fans, because it was a terrible incident." The apology tour has done little to quiet galleries with long memories, as Sunday's crowd made clear.
Fans Ejected Hole by Hole as Heckling Escalated
Security removed a fan at the 4th hole for shouting "Don't choke, Wyndham!" during Clark's address, according to Essentially Sports via Yahoo Sports. At the 8th hole, microphones picked up fans yelling "Get in the bunker!" during Clark's drive. NBC broadcaster Dan Hicks confirmed multiple ejections as the round progressed.
The crowd also cheered against Clark at key moments. When his approach on the 6th hole trickled off the putting surface, fans broke into applause. The USGA's updated Fan Code of Conduct, effective April 9, 2026, explicitly bans "verbal or emotional abuse" and "distracting a player," giving security the clear mandate to act, Golf Digest noted.
Knicks Parade Emptied Early Rounds, Packed Sunday
Sunday's crowd was far larger than those earlier in the week. Round 1 on Thursday was "a wash," according to Yahoo Sports, because New York City was celebrating the Knicks' first NBA title in 53 years. An estimated 2 million people attended the ticker-tape parade in Manhattan, pulling fans away from Shinnecock Hills entirely.
Clark himself noted the distraction during Saturday's round, when he could see fans rushing off to catch the last train back to Penn Station. He reportedly asked for a bigger Sunday crowd. He got one — and it arrived ready to make noise. The MTA added 26 extra LIRR trains for the weekend to handle the surge.
Golf World Split on Whether Crowd Crossed the Line
Reaction to the heckling split sharply. Dame Laura Davies called the behavior a "disgrace" on Sky Sports, arguing that targeted harassment of an individual in golf crosses a moral line. Golf Digest noted commentators described the atmosphere as having "teetered on the point of ugliness."
Others argued Clark invited the anger through his own past conduct. Social media was divided, with some calling the jeering fans "NPC losers" and others saying Clark was reaping what he sowed, according to Daily Mail. A Clark victory would make him a two-time U.S. Open champion — wins in 2023 and 2026 — forcing the sport to reckon with one of its most polarizing figures.
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