Wyndham Clark doesn’t care what people think about his curious practice swings in the rough on the 14th hole during Sunday’s final round of the BMW Championship.
The two-time U.S. Open winner, who was victorious Sunday in St. Louis and took home the $3.6 million first-place prize, denied attempting to improve his lie as he switched clubs twice and took at least seven practice swings before landing his second shot on the green, 24 feet from the hole.
The moment called to mind Bryson DeChambeau’s two-shot penalty during the second round of last month’s British Open, when he was ruled to have improved his lie in the high grass.
“I think any player when they’re trying to judge a lie takes out different clubs to see what it feels like. I never fully put the club down behind it. So I don’t think anything of it,” Clark said Tuesday ahead of this weekend’s Tour Championship, per Golf Digest. “When the cameras are on you, they’re gonna find anything. I think you saw that in Bryson’s case.”
Clark, 32, said the lie was “never bad” and delivered a pointed message to those who believe he was acting nefariously.
“By no means did I take a bad lie and make it really good. So people can think what they want,” Clark said. “I know I didn’t do anything that was costing the integrity of the field. That’s all I’ve got to say about that.”
Clark’s activity before the shot in question drew the attention of the CBS broadcast crew.
“He’s taking a long look at this. This is like the third club he’s placed down behind the ball there,” Trevor Immelman said.
“So the lie might be better,” Frank Nobilo added.
Clark ended up with par on the hole and birdied each of the last three holes to finish with a three-shot victory.
The Tour Championship begins Thursday at East Lake in Atlanta, where the winner will be awarded $10 million.
