Wyndham Clark’s ‘Dead’ Crowd Complaint Gets Answered as Medinah Finally Finds Its Voice

Wyndham Clark has a crowd problem. It makes sense, too, considering how quickly he fell in public’s opinion after his U.S. Open meltdown. But since then, the American has done everything in his power to win back the fans. And would you believe it, he has achieved more than one thing, despite his earlier pessimism.

When he arrived at Medinah on Wednesday, Clark claimed the media had made him the villian after the U.S. Open incident, and he duly hoped that “Eventually it would be nice if people were rooting for me…” The problem was there weren’t enough fans on the course to fulfill Clark’s wish, prompting a Thursday response from him that ran along the lines of, “it was kind of dead out there.” Thankfully, the complaint lasted less than 24 hours.

The number of fans at Medinah increased significantly, and so did their behavior toward Clark on Day 2. “Much bigger crowds today. Somewhat more vocal, with some U-S-A chants ringing out,” Bob Weeks, senior reporter and golf analyst for The Sports Network, wrote in an X post. As if to answer Clark’s complaint in one go, the fans filled out the course when Clark arrived. Something more happened.

Now a hype man for Team USA, Clark, who feared the crowd would give him grief even during the Presidents Cup, did everything in his power to encourage them more. Clark, who has largely gotten used to heckling by now, threw fist pumps now and then, clapped in the direction of the crowds to excite them more. Eventually, the course filled up with loud cries of “USA!” Hold on. A lot more happened.

As per Mirror, when Clark reached the second fairway, someone in the gallery yelled, “I love you, Wyndham!” Fans lined up against the ropes, and even the American captain, Brandt Snedeker, was a witness to the madness. At this time, Collin Morikawa and he were tied with Ryan Fox and Min Woo Lee. And would you believe what happened next?

As the group walked the sixth fairway, someone among the screaming crowd shouted, “sexiest group out there.” Clark will likely remember that one. Regardless, it’s a big improvement in every aspect. For the pro who hoped this week would have “someone else” as the “underdog, if you will,” the reactions were positive. And if the other reports are anything to go by, Friday was a success for the Presidents Cup as a whole.

CBS Sports analyst and SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio host Jason Sobel also noted the same trend. After taking a spin around Medinah, he observed much larger crowds today and expected the numbers to grow even further as the afternoon progressed, with fans becoming more engaged.

One fan responding to his post on X offered a simple explanation for the surge in attendance: it was Friday, meaning many fans had skipped work to watch the game, soak in the atmosphere, and enjoy a drink. Skratch‘s Senior Director of Social Media, Nicole Rae, also confirmed that people heard Clark.

“There are WAY more people on site at Medinah today. First hole is a few deep on both sides and stands are filled on the first tee. Cheering for both teams as well. Looks like Chicago heard Wyndham Clark loud and clear,” she wrote in one post.

She also offered a few specific examples to illustrate the heightened energy at Medinah. Among them was a fan dressed as Evel Knievel near the putting greens, chanting the name of the 2026 U.S. Open winner. Another spectator, while cheering for Scottie Scheffler, even reminded his wife that the news had said the crowd needed to be louder today.

Now, this wouldn’t have been a conversation if the subdued crowd hadn’t worried the players, including Clark.

After he and Morikawa defeated Scott and Fox 3&2 in Thursday’s four-ball session, Clark described the atmosphere at Medinah Country Club as “kind of dead.” In fact, he stated, “…these guys are going to laugh, but it was kind of dead out there. I felt like the momentum could have been better, to be honest, because we weren’t really feeling the fans, I think, as much as normal.”

Clark even cited an example of Morikawa’s 5-wood from 229 yards on the par-four 11th. The shot finished just 12 feet from the hole, yet there was no applause or cheer from the crowd. So little was the reaction that Morikawa admitted they didn’t even know whether the ball had found the green.

Snedeker agreed with Clark’s comments, noting that the crowd was there and cheering on the first tee. However, as the day progressed, he said the support “kind of dissipated.”

While Clark hoped for a more energetic crowd on Day 2, Snedeker was certain that they would come out in greater numbers. The golf world has now confirmed that its complaints got answered.

Despite the United States’ dominance over the International team in Presidents Cup history, crowd support remains essential for the American side. In team match play, players are competing hole by hole not just for themselves but for their entire team (and their countries), making the crowd’s reaction part of the experience. A roar after a clutch putt or precise approach can turn a successful shot into a shared moment and provide an emotional lift. That was the kind of momentum Clark said he felt was missing yesterday.

Crowd support energizes players and also influences the home atmosphere. That’s why teams celebrate away wins more in events like the Presidents Cup and the Ryder Cup. While it doesn’t directly affect a hole’s result, it can influence the psychology and confidence with which golfers play.

The difference at Medinah was clear on Friday. After Clark’s concerns about the quiet atmosphere, a larger and more vocal crowd brought the energy the Americans had been hoping for. With more fans filling the course and cheering throughout the day, the atmosphere appeared far closer to what players expect from a home Presidents Cup. Who knows it might get even better during the weekends?

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