Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Photos
In relation to Wyndham Clark, informal golf followers can be forgiven for pondering of him has a quiet, soft-spoken professional with a vanilla character. However he’s not.
The final two seasons have proven Clark to be an opinionated, outspoken and hyper-competitive participant. In 2023, Clark captured his first win on the Wells Fargo in Might, then broke by way of for a serious victory on the U.S. Open at Los Angeles Nation Membership.
After making his U.S. group debut on the 2023 Ryder Cup, Clark was within the warmth of the battle eventually month’s Presidents Cup, and he obtained concerned with the occasion’s most controversial second.
Throughout a late Saturday match between Individuals Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay and Internationals Tom Kim and Si Woo Kim, Tom Kim accused U.S. gamers watching the match from the sidelines of “cursing at us.”
Then Worldwide group member Ben An referred to as out Clark instantly on Twitter, and Clark fired again with a quip of his personal.
This week, Clark confirmed his opinionated facet when he joined the No Laying Up podcast and obtained onto what has been essentially the most controversial topic in professional golf over the previous few years: LIV Golf.
One of many present hot-button subjects is that if and the way LIV gamers needs to be allowed to return to the PGA Tour as soon as an settlement is finalized between the Tour and PIF.
Within the interview, Clark instructed No Laying Up that he helps some LIV execs returning to their roots on Tour, however not all of them. The first distinction between the 2 teams? Their Tour “pedigree.”
“It will depend on who it’s,” Clark instructed No Laying Up. “Guys which have had the profession the place they need to be lifelong PGA Tour gamers, they deserve the precise to come back play the PGA Tour.”
He continued: “If Dustin Johnson desires to come back again and Phil Mickelson and guys which have gained, Brooks, who’ve gained majors and are almost certainly Corridor of Famers, they should play wherever the hell they need, as a result of they’re so good.”
However as for gamers who should not family names and don’t have many glittering trophies of their houses, Clark expressed hesitation on letting them come again to the Tour.
“Guys that perhaps left and didn’t have that pedigree and profession,” Clark stated, “these are the fellows I battle with as a result of they made their resolution.”
Clark additionally revealed that if gamers knew they might “take the cash” from LIV and nonetheless play PGA Tour occasions, “all of us would have executed that.”
This isn’t the primary time Clark has commented on LIV Golf for the reason that upstart league’s inception in 2022.
After his win on the abbreviated AT&T Pebble Seaside Professional-Am, the place the event was referred to as after 54 holes as a consequence of unhealthy climate, Clark admitted he had severely thought-about a suggestion from LIV however declined to as a substitute pursue his lifelong purpose of successful PGA Tour occasions.
“I in the end declined going to LIV as a result of I felt like I nonetheless have quite a lot of issues left within the tank on the PGA Tour and I wished to chase data, I wished to chase world rating,” Clark stated following his win. “My dream is to attempt to be one of many high gamers on the planet if not the highest participant. I simply grew up at all times imagining successful PGA Tour occasions. So in the end, I selected my legacy over LIV and that’s actually what it got here all the way down to.”
Then on the Masters, Clark took a delicate shot at LIV Golf and its gamers. After struggling to a one-over 73 within the opening spherical, Clark quipped, “You understand we’ve obtained 54 holes [left]. In LIV Golf they solely play 54, so I like my possibilities.”
You may take heed to Clark’s full interview with the No Laying Up podcast right here.