
Oakmont bans former U.S. Open champ Wyndham Clark for locker damage
Lynch said the ban can be rescinded if Clark pays for the damage and seeks counseling and/or attends anger management sessions.
Clark smashed his locker in frustration after missing the cut during the major championship last month in Oakmont, Pa. He later apologized and offered to pay for the damage, which was shown in photos posted on social media.
"Following multiple discussions with the USGA and the OCC Board, a decision has been made that Mr. Clark will no longer be permitted on OCC property," Lynch said in the letter obtained by multiple outlets, including Golf Digest.
"Reinstatement would be contingent upon Mr. Clark fulfilling a number of specific conditions, including full repayment for damages, a meaningful contribution to a charity of the board's choosing, and the successful completion of counseling and/or anger management sessions."
Clark, who won the 2023 U.S. Open, fired matching 4-over par 74s in the first two rounds of the 2025 edition of the tournament. Players who failed to make the cut at the U.S. Open were still guaranteed payments of $10,000, but missed out on the bulk of the tournament's $21.5 million purse. Winner J.J. Spaun received $4.3 million.
Clark, 31, followed his U.S. Open victory with a tie for 33rd at the 2023 British Open. He missed the cut at the 2024 Masters, PGA Championship and British Open. Clark tied for 56th at the 2024 U.S. Open. He tied for 46th at the 2025 Masters and tied for 50th at the 2025 PGA Championship before missing the cut at Oakmont.
"I've had a lot of highs and lows in my career, especially this year some lows," Clark said last month at the Travelers Championship. "I made a mistake that I deeply regret. I'm very sorry for what happened.
"But I'd also like to move on, not only for myself but for Oakmont, for the USGA, and kind of focus on the rest of the year and things that come up."
Clark sits at No. 28 in the Official World Golf Ranking.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


NBC Sports
an hour ago
- NBC Sports
British Open at Portrush starts with an Irish cheer. That's how the last one ended
Irishman and two-time Claret Jug winner Padraig Harrington tees off the Round 1 of The 153rd Open from Royal Portrush's Dunluce Links in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland (AP) — The British Open at Royal Portrush started Thursday the way the last one ended: A packed grandstand and throaty cheers for an Irish golfer. Padraig Harrington, a two-time Open champion, hit the opening shot of the 153rd edition of golf's oldest championship with a piercing iron into the wind off the North Atlantic, between pot bunkers on both sides and into the fairway. The Open returns to Royal Portrush after only six years. The final stroke in 2019 was a tap-in par for Shane Lowry of Ireland for his first major title. Harrington was the last to arrive on the first tee, the silver claret jug positioned to the left to remind players what's at stake this year. He raised his cap, appreciating the gesture of the R&A to offer him the opening shot. And then he produced an even louder cheer when he holed a 15-foot birdie putt. It's only a start to the longest day in golf — the first shot was 6:35 a.m. local time. The final group won't finished until around 9:30 p.m. Rory McIlroy is the star attraction in his native Northern Ireland. His major championship season began with him wearing the Masters green jacket with hopes of ending it cradling the claret jug. He was among the late starters on Thursday. The morning wave featured Scottie Scheffler, the PGA champion and world's No. 1 player for the last two years, and defending Open champion Xander Schauffele, who is trying to become the first player since Harrington (2007-08) to win the Open in consecutive years. This is only the third time Royal Portrush has hosted the Open, the first one coming in 1951 for a club that dates to 1888. The forecast for the week is mixed, a term in these parts that roughly translates to expect just about everything. Harrington led off under streaks of sunshine before the wind ushered in clouds.


San Francisco Chronicle
2 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
British Open at Portrush starts with an Irish cheer. That's how the last one ended
PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland (AP) — The British Open at Royal Portrush started Thursday the way the last one ended: A packed grandstand and throaty cheers for an Irish golfer. Padraig Harrington, a two-time Open champion, hit the opening shot of the 153rd edition of golf's oldest championship with a piercing iron into the wind off the North Atlantic, between pot bunkers on both sides and into the fairway. The Open returns to Royal Portrush after only six years. The final stroke in 2019 was a tap-in par for Shane Lowry of Ireland for his first major title. Harrington was the last to arrive on the first tee, the silver claret jug positioned to the left to remind players what's at stake this year. He raised his cap, appreciating the gesture of the R&A to offer him the opening shot. And then he produced an even louder cheer when he holed a 15-foot birdie putt. It's only a start to the longest day in golf — the first shot was 6:35 a.m. local time. The final group won't finished until around 9:30 p.m. Rory McIlroy is the star attraction in his native Northern Ireland. His major championship season began with him wearing the Masters green jacket with hopes of ending it cradling the claret jug. He was among the late starters on Thursday. The morning wave featured Scottie Scheffler, the PGA champion and world's No. 1 player for the last two years, and defending Open champion Xander Schauffele, who is trying to become the first player since Harrington (2007-08) to win the Open in consecutive years. This is only the third time Royal Portrush has hosted the Open, the first one coming in 1951 for a club that dates to 1888. The forecast for the week is mixed, a term in these parts that roughly translates to expect just about everything. Harrington led off under streaks of sunshine before the wind ushered in clouds. ___
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
British Open at Portrush starts with an Irish cheer. That's how the last one ended
PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland (AP) — The British Open at Royal Portrush started Thursday the way the last one ended: A packed grandstand and throaty cheers for an Irish golfer. Padraig Harrington, a two-time Open champion, hit the opening shot of the 153rd edition of golf's oldest championship with a piercing iron into the wind off the North Atlantic, between pot bunkers on both sides and into the fairway. The Open returns to Royal Portrush after only six years. The final stroke in 2019 was a tap-in par for Shane Lowry of Ireland for his first major title. Harrington was the last to arrive on the first tee, the silver claret jug positioned to the left to remind players what's at stake this year. He raised his cap, appreciating the gesture of the R&A to offer him the opening shot. And then he produced an even louder cheer when he holed a 15-foot birdie putt. It's only a start to the longest day in golf — the first shot was 6:35 a.m. local time. The final group won't finished until around 9:30 p.m. Rory McIlroy is the star attraction in his native Northern Ireland. His major championship season began with him wearing the Masters green jacket with hopes of ending it cradling the claret jug. He was among the late starters on Thursday. The morning wave featured Scottie Scheffler, the PGA champion and world's No. 1 player for the last two years, and defending Open champion Xander Schauffele, who is trying to become the first player since Harrington (2007-08) to win the Open in consecutive years. This is only the third time Royal Portrush has hosted the Open, the first one coming in 1951 for a club that dates to 1888. The forecast for the week is mixed, a term in these parts that roughly translates to expect just about everything. Harrington led off under streaks of sunshine before the wind ushered in clouds. ___ AP golf: Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press