Golf Star Criticised for ‘Absolute Clown Behaviour’ After Tantrum Left Volunteer ‘Terrified’

Wyndham Clark, a former US Open champion, has faced criticism following an outburst that had the potential to injure a volunteer marshall.

During the final round of the PGA Championship, after a disappointing bogey from three putts on the par-5 15th hole, Clark proceeded to the 16th tee, entering the famed ‘Green Mile’—the challenging last three holes at Quail Hollow.

As his drive veered toward a deep fairway bunker, Clark threw his club backwards without glancing, resulting in the club smashing through an advertising hoarding and breaking in the process.

The club narrowly missed hitting a volunteer marshall. Viewers on social media quickly called for Clark’s disqualification, a measure that, while possible for similar behaviour in tennis, is exceedingly rare in golf.

Clark may face a fine for this incident, although such penalties imposed by the PGA Tour or USGA—the body that oversees the PGA Championship—are generally not disclosed to the public.

He proceeded to bogey the 16th hole before making pars on the final two holes, finishing with a 3-over 74 and tying for 50th place.

This display of frustration may not sit well with sponsors. Notably, Clark’s club caused a hole above the logo of T-Mobile, a major US telecommunications company and one of his sponsors.

In contrast, World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler had a remarkable performance on the back nine, securing a 5-shot victory and his third major title.

Earlier in the day, Jon Rahm had been in contention for victory until an incredible collapse over three holes saw him plummet down the leaderboard.

After scoring a birdie on the par-4 11th, Rahm briefly tied for the lead with Scheffler after a bogey-free 3-under front nine.

However, he missed birdie putts on the 14th and 15th holes, and his tee shots on the 16th and 18th went awry. He played the last three holes at 5-over, resulting in a significant drop down the standings.

“Am I a bit embarrassed about how I finished today? Yes,” Rahm admitted. “But I just have to move past it. It’s not the end of the world. It’s not like I’m a doctor or a first responder, where a bad day can have serious consequences. I’ll bounce back. I’ll move on.”

Rahm concluded with a 2-over 73 on the final day, finishing tied for eighth, seven shots behind Scheffler.

This outcome would have seemed unimaginable for Rahm just an hour prior.

“The last three holes are a tough pill to swallow right now,” he remarked. “Especially knowing that the 16th fairway isn’t the narrowest, and that bunker is certainly in play. If you’re fortunate enough, you might find a shot to the pin.

“It wasn’t a terrible swing, but it was poor enough to put me in a very tricky situation.”