Wyndham Clark hopes to play again at Oakmont Country Club, but says it depends on the historic golf club in the suburbs of Pittsburgh after he banned the property after damage to a locker at this year’s US Open.
“It’s up to them,” Clark told reporters Sunday. He finished 11 under with a 6-under 65 card in the final round and finished in fourth in the open with a tie. “I really don’t know. I hope so. It’s a great course and location, but it’s up to them.
“I did something awful, and I’m really sorry for it. Hopefully they’ll be in their minds to forgive me, and maybe in the future I’ll be able to play there.”
In a letter sent to members of the Oakmont Country Club earlier this week, club president John Lynch said the club banned Clark after having multiple discussions with the American Golf Association and the club’s board of directors.
Oakmont is scheduled to hold the US Open again in 2033. This will be the final year of Clark’s 10-year exemption, which won the 2023 US Open at the Los Angeles Country Club.
According to the letter, Clark, 31, may be allowed to return to Oakmont if he pays damages, makes a “meaning contribution” to a charity selected by the club’s board of directors, and receives counseling or anger management therapy.
“We reached out and wanted to do that,” Clark said. “It’s obviously easy to pay damages. It was something that was given. And then obviously it was all an apology and I want to give back to the community, as I hurt a great place in Pittsburgh, so I wanted to do what I could to show that I am and not a reflection of who I am and who never happens again.
“But I want to apologise to them and show them what I’m trying to do.”
Clark appears surprised that his punishment is detailed in a letter to members of Oakmont.
“We wanted it to be private,” Clark said. “I’ll leave it as is.”
That’s not the only thing that Clark has been criticized for his poor behavior on the course this season. At the PGA Championship in May, he threw a driver and hurt a nearby sign in the teebox featuring one of his most well-known sponsors.
Clark has been open in the past about working on his mental health and temperament.
“I was pretty open about my mental change and change and I did it in 23 and ’24. And then the tough years and all the expectations and frustration all came together, and I did two stupid things,” he said. “But one thing that did is wake me up and go back to the people I know I am and the people I want to be.
“I don’t think they reflect who I am, so I hope they don’t reflect them, and that won’t happen again.”
Clark, who ranked 28th in the official world golf rankings, recorded the best major finish since winning the 2023 US Open. He was his second top-10 finish in 20 starts on the tour this season.