Portrush (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Wyndham Clark said on Sunday he “feels” terrible and hopes he will be able to play at Oakmont Country Club again after he was banned from the course for causing damage in the locker room during last month’s US Open. The American, who won the 2023 US Open, damaged his locker after missing the cut at the major championship. A letter from Oakmont president John Lynch earlier this week, obtained by US media, to club members said Clark “will no longer be permitted on OCC property”.
Clark, who also sparked controversy after smashing his driver during this year’s PGA Championship, apologised after returning to form by finishing tied-fourth at the British Open. “Obviously I feel terrible with what happened,” he told reporters at Royal Portrush. “I’m doing anything I can to try to remedy the situation. I’m just trying to get past it. I want the best for Oakmont, the USGA and myself. Like I said, I’m very sorry for what I did and feel terrible, and hopefully in a few months we’re past this, and it’s something of the past.”
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Oakmont said for Clark’s ban to be lifted he would have to fulfil “a number of specific conditions”. Those requirements include a full repayment for damages, a “meaningful contribution” to a charity of the board’s choice, and completion of counselling and/or anger management sessions. The US Open will next be played at Oakmont in 2033, when Clark will still have an exemption due to his title win two years ago.
“I did something awful, and I’m really sorry for it,” added the 31-year-old. “Hopefully they have it in their heart to forgive me, and maybe in the future I’ll be able to play there.” During the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, Clark threw his driver into a wall behind the tee box after an errant shot, finishing his round without it. “I’m not going to justify what I did in those two things,” he said. “But yes, it is very demanding. It’s an individual sport. Everyone is always watching you and it’s always on you. Yeah, sometimes it gets the best of you. All of us have had moments that we’re not proud of, and those two I’m definitely not proud of. So it is difficult.”
Clark followed second and third-round scores of 66 with an excellent closing 65 at the British Open to post only his second top-10 finish of the year.
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