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In the hockey country of Canada, sporting a jersey is never a bad idea. The Rink at TPC Toronto, in fact, is known for even golf fans boasting their favorite pastime. Nelly Korda donned a Chicago Blackhawks jersey in the 2022 CP Women’s Open in support of her then-boyfriend. So when Wyndham Clark thought of a similar stunt, it shouldn’t be the worst idea, right? Except the four-time PGA Tour winner chose to play the villain.

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He wore a Team USA jersey to rub salt on the Canadians’ wounds. Not just any other jersey. On the 14th, which is equivalent to the 16th at TPC Scottsdale, Clark chose to don a jersey bearing the No. 86 and Jack Hughes’s name on it. Now in case you forgot, back in February, Hughes scored 1:41 into overtime and gave Team USA a 2-1 gold-medal victory over Canada at the Winter Olympics. Clark wanted to nettle the crowd, and he did get what he was expecting: loud boos.

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After sticking his tee shot to 4 feet of the hole, Clark walked through a gallery of booing fans while his playing partner, Tom Kim, laughed in the background. He wasn’t done, however. Clark made a birdie, and to needle the fans further, he raised his hands in celebration and pointed back to the name on the jersey. Of course, it was all in good spirits, and he had a cheeky smile on his face. Clark later spoke about the incident and also revealed how he got the jersey, which he didn’t carry with him from the USA.

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“I was expecting boos, for sure. It was quite fun,” Clark said after shooting a bogey-free 7-under 63. “They were booing me all the way up, even right before I putted. I was actually really nervous on that putt because if I miss that, then it looks really bad. So I’m glad I birdied it. I was doing it more to celebrate the USA’s win; it had nothing against Canada.”

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But even though what happened on the par-3 14th on Saturday was exciting enough, the thriller was getting the jersey in the first place. Stepping onto the rink on Thursday, Clark simply knew what would be the perfect outfit for him. Only, he didn’t have it. So he went to the internet in hopes of getting something on time, but that didn’t work out. Round 2 had a surprise waiting for him.

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Just two years back in Canada, Wyndham Clark was one of the most electric Team USA members at the Presidents Cup. His mockery of Si Woo Kim’s ‘night-night’ celebration went viral. PGA Tour cameras captured him mouthing ‘night night’ to Kim after the latter missed his putt to hand Team USA an 11-7 lead into the Sunday Singles.

At last year’s Canadian Open, Clark couldn’t make any mark, finishing at T59. This time around, the 32-year-old has a real shot at victory. The competition will sort itself out by Sunday at the $9.8 million event, but the moment on the Rink has already been delivered. Wyndham Clark sits tied for third and heads to the final round with a strong momentum. He will tee off with Jackson Suber and Bud Cauley in the final group at 12:42 PM EDT.

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Abhijit Raj

1,430 Articles

Abhijit Raj is a seasoned Golf writer at EssentiallySports known for blending traditional reporting with a modern, digital-first approach to engage today’s audience. A published fiction author and creative technologist, Abhijit brings over 17 years of analytical thinking and storytelling expertise to his work, crafting compelling narratives that resonate across cultures and technologies. He contributes regularly to the flagship Essentially Golf newsletter, offering weekly insights into the evolving landscape of professional golf. In addition to his sports journalism, Abhijit is a multidisciplinary creative with achievements in music composition, visual storytelling, and poetry. His work spans multiple languages and reflects a deep interest in the intersection of technology, culture, and human experience. Abhijit’s unique voice and editorial precision make him a distinctive presence in golf media, where he continues to sharpen his craft through the EssentiallySports Journalistic Excellence Program.

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Srashti Sharma

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