Two weeks have passed since the Paris Olympics stole the show. But for Wyndham Clark, the real story wasn’t about medals or glory. It’s about the unseen battles he fought, the setbacks he overcame, and the quiet victories that made him stronger. Behind the scenes, Clark has been grinding, pushing through mental struggles, and emerging more resilient than ever. 

In a candid conversation with The Smylie Show, Wyndham Clark opened up about his journey. The golfer revealed his mental struggles during the Olympics, where a disappointing first-round 75 seemed to dash his hopes. But he refused to give up, drawing on his pride and determination to represent Team USA.

“I finished early. I went home, I was pissed, and I sat there and I was thinking, I said, All right, well, this s*cks, but I’m representing Team USA. I have pride in myself, and I also have the playoffs coming up.‘” Clark shared. 

“So I said, all right, well this, these next three days, are essentially prep, and let’s dig deep and see what we can do.‘” And dig deep he did, bouncing back with impressive rounds of 68 and 65. In the end, he couldn’t share the medal podium, but his resilience showed in his final score of 11-under, finishing T14.

For Clark, this moment was a “moral victory”–a testament to his growth and ability to overcome adversity. “The Wyndham two years ago would have finished 50th and said, ‘Alright, well, this tournament’s over,’” the 30-year-old reflected. “But instead, I dug deep and played good golf. I’m proud of myself that I came back.”

However, when he was selected to represent his nation in the coveted Olympics, he faced intense scrutiny from fans, with many wanting him to give up his spot. Fans believed Bryson DeChambeau to be up there because of his successful stints in majors this year, including a U.S. Open win at Pinehurst No. 2. Yet, despite the comparisons and pressure, he showcased his mental fortitude at the Paris Olympics.

Wyndham Clark from underdog to resilient champion

Wyndham Clark’s journey to self-discovery has yielded remarkable results. His dedication and love towards his country earned him a new wave of admiration from fans. Many fans underscored his comeback after the first round at the Golf Le National and called him “Mental beast for coming back after day 1 and handling business 🇺🇸,” and “Epic finish! Way to bounce back!” 

As he reflected on his Olympics experience, he also credited his growth to the work done by his mental coaches. The 30-year-old then gave an example of his friend Max Homa who’s also unable to find the ground recently.

He recalled, “There’s little moral victories and one I think of that recently happened was Max Homa at the Open Championship, made that 35 feet. And I’m close with Max and his Caddie, Joe, and I know that he’s been struggling of late, and little things like that. That’s like, huge for your psyche”. Drawing inspiration and motivation from the small triumphs on the course. 

This newfound awareness of small victories reveals a deeper understanding of the mental game, one that Clark continues to develop.