Wyndham Clark's Berserk Act at Oakmont Leads to Career-Ruining Punishment
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Just hours before the showdown at Royal Portrush, mood across the Open Championship field is split. Some players are grinding to peak for the final major of the season, while others, like Scottie Scheffler, are questioning life and golf ahead of the first round.
But in the case of three-time PGA Tour winner Wyndham Clark, it is far from routine.
On Tuesday, several sources reported that Clark has been banned from Oakmont Country Club, the site where JJ Spun lifted the U.S. Open trophy last month.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 18: Wyndham Clark of the United States looks on from the ninth hole during the final round of the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Country Club on May 18, 2025...
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 18: Wyndham Clark of the United States looks on from the ninth hole during the final round of the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Country Club on May 18, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) More
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The decision stems from Clark's locker-room outburst after missing the cut at the course by a single stroke. He carded back-to-back 74s, finishing eight over, and bogeyed the final hole to seal his early exit.
What followed was a moment of berserk that spiraled into this career-altering incident.
According to multiple reports, Clark damaged several lockers in the historic clubhouse, with photos of the destruction quickly going viral.
🚨🥾🚪 #NEW: Wyndham Clark allegedly damaged several lockers in the change room at Oakmont Country Club following a missed cut, per @TronCarterNLU. Additionally, Clark recently destroyed a T-mobile sign at the PGA Championship not long ago.
Is this behaviour acceptable? pic.twitter.com/xJT5GlkxWD — NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) June 15, 2025
"I made a mistake that I deeply regret. I'm very sorry for what happened," Clark said during the Travelers Championship, but Oakmont officials are firm on their decision to punish the 31-year-old with this life lesson.
Can Wyndham Clark ever play at the Oakmont Country Club again?
In short, yes. The ban, while permanent, includes a conditional path to reinstatement.
Clark must pay for damages, make charitable donations, and complete counseling.
The club, which will host the U.S. Open again in 2033, made it clear that its legacy and standards were non-negotiable.
This isn't Clark's first emotional misstep. At this year's PGA Championship, he snapped his driver and damaged a sponsor sign after a poor tee shot.
"I hold myself to a high standard ... and (on the day of the incident) I fell short of those standards," he wrote in a separate apology.
The fallout is already impacting Clark's season. He enters The Open with just one top-10 finish in 19 starts, and sits 78th in the FedEx Cup standings.
His odds to win at Portrush are long, and his reputation, once bolstered by his 2023 U.S. Open win, now carries the weight of controversy.
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