Wyndham Clark, a prominent golfer who recently won the 2023 U.S. Open, is currently facing a ban from Oakmont Country Club following a series of incidents that have raised concerns about his on-course behavior. The club has said that a decision about his possible return depends on a number of conditions he needs to fulfill.
Clark’s ban stems from an incident during this year’s PGA Championship in May, where he threw his driver in frustration, damaging a sign belonging to one of his sponsors near the tee box. This bill has opened the door to broader discussions on the issue of mental health across professional sports. Furthermore, it has received backlash at his odious behavior all season long. Most importantly, Clark has been up front about his battles with these demons, talking extensively about his addiction and depression in numerous interviews.
He infamously smashed his locker at Oakmont on the way out of the U.S. Open. This incident came on the heels of his disastrous showing at the PGA Championship. As such, the club has taken the extraordinary step of instituting a permanent ban against him from all of its property. Clark doesn’t doubt that it will be Oakmont again someday. The course is scheduled to host the U.S. Open once more in 2033.
Clark’s eligibility for re-entry at Oakmont may be subject to meeting defined criteria. He can come back, but only if he is willing to restore the harm he has done. Further, he needs to make a substantial donation to a charity selected by the club’s board and undergo counseling or anger management treatment.
Reflecting on his recent behavior, Clark stated, “I did something awful, and I’m really sorry for it. Hopefully, they have it in their heart to forgive me, and maybe in the future I’ll be able to play there.” He owned his transgressions and stressed the need to show proof of his intentions to change both personally and in service to the community.
Clark has accomplished his second top-10 of the season, having put together an impressive 20-start rookie campaign on tour. This is quite an achievement given his inconsistent play. Since his torrid stretch of victories, he has fallen to 28th in the Official World Golf Ranking.
During a recent interview, Clark remarked, “I’ve been pretty open about my mental shift and change to get better… I did two stupid things.” He reiterated his intent to show the community that his actions do not define who he is as a person, saying, “I want to give back to the community because I hurt a great place in Pittsburgh.”
As he continues through this tough stretch, Clark’s attention is squarely turned toward continuing to show growth as a person. “One thing that it did do is wake me up and get me back into the person I know I am and the person I want to be,” he explained.
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