Wyndham Clark won the BMW Championship despite fans openly rooting against him, while Rory McIlroy, who finished third, drew much of the crowd’s support. A few months earlier at the U.S. Open, spectators openly cheered his bad shots and booed his good ones. Clark feels he has been cast as the villain—a role he says the media created—and at the Presidents Cup he is on a quest of his own aside from winning the cup with his teammates.

When asked about his previous comment that he had always been the underdog in his six victories, Clark reflected from Medinah, “If it happened throughout my career, yeah, it would maybe be a bummer because even though I’m maybe—the media has made me out to be the villain, if you will—I don’t feel like I’m that person.”

After the 2026 BMW Championship, Clark admitted that he has often felt like the underdog throughout his career, even during his victories. His comments hinted at the lack of support and at times open hostility he has lately received from galleries. It’s particularly relevant at the Presidents Cup because he is an American golfer playing on home turf. Clark joked that if he still gets booed, maybe he has to live in Mexico. Although he quipped, there was a tinge of sadness evident in his voice in what he said next.

“Eventually, it would be nice if people were rooting for me and someone else was the underdog, if you will,” Clark added, offering a sense of optimism. “We’ll see. Hopefully things are trending and changing in the right direction.”

Still, only time will tell whether representing Team USA will finally earn Clark the support of the fans. The two-time major winner said the fans in Chicago have been amazing, and there are signs that their view of Clark may be changing.

Clark’s joke has become a slogan at the Presidents Cup

After winning the 2026 U.S. Open, Clark came to the press conference as was inevitably asked about his plans. The two-time major champion joked that he was going to “open some grapes” and see where the night took him and his friends.

The phrase “open some grape,” Clark’s playful way of referring to opening a bottle of wine, has now become a catchphrase. He is hearing that a lot on the range now. Perhaps a sign of an improved relationship with fans?

Possible. But Clark said none of it was planned: “Some of my stuff is calculated, contrary to what you guys believe, but that one is not. That’s what we call it at home. All my buddies, we call it grape, vino, or grape. And it came out. Now every time I see somebody, they’re like, ‘Let’s open some grape.’ This week, practice rounds, I probably heard it 15 times, ‘Let’s open up some grape this weekend.’ It’s fun. Now I need a grape sponsorship.”

While the fan reaction may be a positive sign for a golfer who has been trying to rebuild his reputation after two highly publicized incidents in 2025, Clark has gone through plenty of adversity this year.

During his second U.S. Open victory at Shinnecock Hills, spectators repeatedly booed and heckled Clark, many of whom were backing Scottie Scheffler in the final round. Given that experience—and the reputation he has built over the years—Clark is unlikely to be surprised if some fans remain firmly against him.

Moments of frustration have also contributed to Clark’s strained relationship with the galleries off the course. After missing the cut at the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont, he damaged two lockers in the club’s historic locker room, with photos of the incident later circulating widely online.

Clark apologized and admitted it was a mistake he deeply regretted, but the incident had consequences: Oakmont barred him from the property until he paid for the repairs, made charitable donations, and completed counseling and anger-management sessions.

Clark has since fulfilled those requirements, but the incident remains a notable low point in his career. It has also continued to follow him, with fans at subsequent events reminding him that the fallout from Oakmont has not entirely disappeared. But Clark is not the only golfer who hasn’t been on favorable terms with the fans. Think Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Reed, and more. 

Yet, the two-time major winner isn’t worried about the event. Clark explained that the opening tee shot at a Presidents Cup or Ryder Cup is already a high-pressure moment, but having out-of-bounds just two yards from the fairway makes the challenge even more demanding. While the players haven’t focused much on it during practice rounds, he expects the danger to become much more noticeable once competition begins.

Interestingly, Clark said he likes the setup because the holes are normally less memorable when played in their regular positions on the course. With the out-of-bounds added so close to the fairway, however, he believes the opening stretch could become much more distinctive and provide an exciting start to the matches.

But can Clark win over the fans at the Presidents Cup? Only time will tell.