Wyndham Clark, the 2023 U.S. Open champion, isn’t afraid to specific his opinion.
Whether or not it’s his exuberant self-confidence—he as soon as proclaimed himself a greater participant than Rory McIlroy—or his declaration that the greens at Pinehurst No. 2 have been “borderline” unplayable forward of this 12 months’s U.S. Open, Clark doesn’t draw back from revealing his true beliefs. Love him or detest him, one should marvel at this actuality. He’s blunt, will get to the purpose, and doesn’t draw back from questions.
That features queries about LIV Golf, too. This previous February, Clark admitted that he virtually joined the Saudi-backed circuit final winter.
“I undoubtedly met with LIV and went by these discussions. I needed to see what they might deliver to the desk,” Clark mentioned after successful the rain-shortened AT&T Pebble Seaside Professional-Am.
“I finally declined to go to LIV as a result of I felt like I nonetheless had loads of issues left within the tank on the PGA Tour. I wish to chase data; I wish to chase world rating. My dream is to attempt to be one of many prime gamers on this planet, if not the highest participant. I simply grew up at all times imagining successful PGA Tour occasions.”
“Finally, I selected my legacy over LIV.”
Quick-forward eight months, and the ‘No Laying Up’ podcast—top-of-the-line in golf media—invited Clark to look on its present. Host Chris Solomon requested Clark about quite a few subjects, however in direction of the top of the episode, the topic of LIV Golf unsurprisingly arose.
The game stays splintered, however many gamers—on either side—lengthy for the professional recreation to rekindle and finish its present schism. Clark is amongst those that really feel that approach.
Therefore, Clark defined how LIV Golf stars may return to the PGA Tour.
“I believe it is dependent upon who it’s,” Clark mentioned.
“Guys which have had careers the place they need to be lifelong PGA Tour gamers, I believe they deserve the precise to have the ability to come play on the PGA Tour. I believe guys that possibly left and didn’t have that pedigree and profession—I don’t know—I believe these are the fellows that I’d wrestle with as a result of they made their choice, proper? In order that they selected to go play there, take the cash, and I believe that’s what loads of us wrestle with.”
So, who’re these people who ought to be lifelong PGA Tour gamers?
“If Dustin Johnson desires to return again, Phil Mickelson, and Brooks [Koepka], and guys who’ve received majors, they need to play wherever the hell they need as a result of they’re so good,” Clark added.
“However there are these different guys I wrestle with as a result of then we have a look at it going, man, loads of us had an opportunity to take the cash. And if we 100% knew we may take the cash and are available again, then all of us would have carried out that as a result of all of us would have been approach richer.”
Quite a few stars, such because the aforementioned Johnson, Mickelson, Koepka, in addition to Bryson DeChambeau, Cameron Smith, and Jon Rahm, acquired a reasonably penny from the Saudi Public Funding Fund (PIF) to hitch LIV Golf. The PIF reportedly gave Rahm greater than $400 million.
But, these gamers stay barred from enjoying in PGA Tour occasions.
“I simply hope that we’ve got all the perfect gamers enjoying collectively and that it really works out to the place it’s mutually useful for everybody concerned,” Clark mentioned.
“It is a powerful query, however on the finish of the day, I actually attempt to simply concern myself with what I can management. If I’m enjoying my greatest golf, no matter what occurs, I’m going to have a spot to play.”
Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Enjoying Via. You should definitely take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You possibly can observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as properly.
