Rory McIlroy was called out before the 2023 Ryder Cup. (Image: Getty)
Wyndham Clark is no stranger to stirring things up, and despite being 12 months out from the the American star has already started the mind games. Clark, 30, played an important role for Team USA over the weekend , beating their international counterparts 18.5-11.5.
During the contest, Clark was his usual exuberant self, wildly shouting “Nighty-night, boys” towards Tom Kim and Si Woo Kim after the South Korean pairing had beaten on the final hole by Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele.
And no sooner had the celebrations died down in Montreal, than the 2023 US Open champion was sending a pointed message to Team Europe ahead of their bid to retain the Ryder Cup in Bethpage Black next September.
Asked about the togetherness within Jim Furyk’s side, he replied: “We are a very close team. Contrary to what people thought last year at the Ryder Cup, we were in my opinion closer than the Europeans.
“The media tries to divide us apart, and this year we were just as close if not closer. We had so much camaraderie and positive energy between us. When things weren’t going well, we still were all picking each other up. It was an amazing team room. So many laughs, so many fond memories.”
Clark’s implication wasn’t reflected by the final score in Rome, . Luke Donald’s team are now aiming to become the first side to retain the trophy on foreign soil since the famous ‘Miracle of Medinah’ in 2012, but Clark also warned his team possessed more talent.
Wyndham Clark (right) celebrates with Jim Furyk at the Presidents Cup. (Image: Getty)
“I feel like we’re the best players in the world for a reason,” he added. “And I think you get us all together, and I just think we have a little extra something that maybe other people don’t have. I think it’s the little dog in us.”
It isn’t the first time that Clark has sought to stoke the fires ahead of the Ryder Cup. Before his debut appearance in Rome last year, he caused controversy by declaring himself better than Team Europe talisman . “I like to think I am better than him and I want to prove that,” he said.
Clark, who also said he had the “utmost respect” for the Northern Irishman, later claimed his comments had been taken out of context. He proceeded to take 1.5 points from his first two matches in Italy, before being paired against Robert MacIntyre in the singles.
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In what proved a thrilling contest, Clark came from four down to level matters with just two holes to go. But as news filtered through that the Europeans has secured the match elsewhere on the course, it was the Scotsman who surged to to win 2 up.
It won’t be Furyk who leads the home side next year, with that honour going to Keegan Bradley. World No.3 Clark is currently in line to win an automatic spot in Bradley’s team, with his one tournament victory in 2024 coming at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in California.