Wyndham Clark Strongly Trashes ‘Cheating’ Claims; Angry Fans Refuse to Believe Him: ‘The New Patrick Reed’

Wyndham Clark found himself in the thick of it all at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. The reigning US Open champion was accused of cheating by a section of fans. Clark’s ball appeared to move a bit on the 18th rough when the TV cameras zoomed in. Although Tour officials didn’t deem it to be a rules violation, the internet has delivered its verdict.

Clark, however, categorically denied that he had any intention of improving his lie. The 30-year-old started with a double bogey on the par 4 first hole and ended the front nine 2-over 38 courtesy of another double bogey on the par-4 9th. However, two consecutive birdies on the 10th and 11th, and an eagle on the 13th catapulted him to the top, when disaster struck at the final hole.

What did Wyndham Clark do (or didn’t do) wrong?

Clark was trying to weigh his shot when his clubhead touched the ball on the 18th rough. Did it improve the lie? Mark Dusbabek, the Tour’s lead TV rules and video analyst didn’t think so. “For a ball to move, based on the definition, it has to go to a different spot. It can move, but as long as it comes back to its original spot, it technically hasn’t moved. So, when we watch this tape, it looks like it’s come back to its same spot.”

Dan Hicks, the NBC commentator asked again, “What about improving the lie?” Dusbabek explained, “A player is allowed to ground his club with the weight of the club against the ground, so that basically what he’s doing right there. I feel his ball didn’t move, and I feel like he did nothing to affect the stroke.” The reigning US Open Champion eventually bogeyed the hole to post 1-under 71. But the explanation didn’t entirely satisfy the NBC analysts.

Brad Faxon commented that it didn’t look like it was the weight of the club. Whereas, Luke Donald called for more carefulness. Asked on the matter, Clark said, “I’m not cheating or anything like that or trying to improve my lie. … Obviously, they zoom in, and it makes it look worse.” Fans, however, refuse to take his words for granted.

Fans found a new Patrick Reed in Clark

Interestingly, Clark’s US Open triumph was also marred by claims of cheating. That’s despite USGA officials clearing him of any rules violation and not docking any points from the 30-year-old. Fans refused to believe it then, and they refuse to believe it now as well.

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One fan directly referred to the specific US Open controversy. They claimed that they had seen it before in the Los Angeles Country Club last year.

A section of the fans called him the New Patrick Reed. Allegedly, Reed was kicked out of Georgia’s team for cheating, and his Dubai Desert Classic runner-up finish was also marred by similar allegations.

Some even called for Clark’s disqualification. They point out Wyndham Clark was trying to improve his lie.

An X (formerly Twitter) user felt that Clark shouldn’t have grounded the club. Instead, he should have followed Jordan Spieth by being more careful about it.

Another fan too pointed out that Clark did improve his lie, be it intentionally or unintentionally. There is a four-inch rough at Bay Hill and weighing his clubhead behind the ball is sure to change the position. 

Some of them took a more nuanced stance, however. They point out that these rules are gray areas and it’s hard to pinpoint whether he moved the ball or not.

Interestingly, Jon Rahm found himself in a similar controversy in 2020. His ball appeared to move at the Memorial Championship for which the Spaniard was docked a two-stroke penalty. It didn’t matter in his case because the defending Masters champion went on to clinch the title, regardless. Here, Wyndham Clark heads on to the final round with a solo third on the leaderboard. Shane Lowry maintained his lead but has to share the top spot with World No.1, Scottie Scheffler.

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