SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — Long before he smashed the locker, won a single trophy or had any inkling he’d play in a U.S. Open one day, golf for Wyndham Clark was a test of patience, will and temperament.So, perhaps it’s only right that for Clark to sew up his latest, sweetest triumph, he had to rescue himself from a potentially history making collapse — and do it in front of a New York crowd that, for the most part, came out to Long Island to watch him fail. Clark’s second U.S. Open victory will be remembered as the one where he handled Shinnecock Hills and somehow salvaged a final-round Sunday that saw a six-shot lead at the start dwindle to a single, precious stroke by the end. It will also be remembered for the cheers when he missed shots, and for a winning, tap-in putt on the 18th green that was greeted with an awkward dribble of applause — a strange reaction, especially given the hills Clark has had to climb to become a champion,.“We’ve dealt with his anger issues since he was that high,” said Clark’s father, Randall, explaining the journey as he held his hand about hip high. “It’s because golf is not a game of perfection. And he wants to be perfect.”Clark, 32, was open about his struggles at his last U.S. Open victory in 2023, explaining his mother’s death 10 years earlier had left a scar and that the rage came out most viscerally in the aftermath of missed golf shots. His felt like a simple tale about overcoming obstacles and personal growth. But that journey is never truly finished. His demons came back into full view a year ago when he smashed a locker at Oakmont after missing the cut at the U.S. Open. He has since apologized and the suits at Oakmont, appalled at first, have moved on, as well. The fans in New York clearly haven’t. It made for an awkward stro …
