Wyndham Clark, the 2023 U.S. Open champion, isn’t afraid to specific his opinion.
Whether or not 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 had 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 nearly joined the Saudi-backed circuit final winter.
“I positively met with LIV and went by way of these discussions. I wished to see what they may carry to the desk,” Clark stated after profitable the rain-shortened AT&T Pebble Seashore Professional-Am.
“I in the end declined to go to LIV as a result of I felt like I nonetheless had a whole lot 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 the planet, if not the highest participant. I simply grew up all the time imagining profitable PGA Tour occasions.”
“Finally, I selected my legacy over LIV.”
Quick-forward eight months, and the ‘No Laying Up’ podcast—probably the greatest in golf media—invited Clark to look on its present. Host Chris Solomon requested Clark about quite a few matters, however in direction of the tip of the episode, the topic of LIV Golf unsurprisingly arose.
The game stays splintered, however many gamers—on each side—lengthy for the professional sport 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 will depend on who it’s,” Clark stated.
“Guys which have had careers the place they need to be lifelong PGA Tour gamers, I believe they deserve the suitable 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 battle 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 a whole lot of us wrestle with.”
So, who’re these people who needs to be lifelong PGA Tour gamers?
“If Dustin Johnson desires to come back again, Phil Mickelson, and Brooks [Koepka], and guys who’ve gained 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 battle with as a result of then we have a look at it going, man, a whole lot 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 achieved 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, obtained a fairly penny from the Saudi Public Funding Fund (PIF) to affix 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 now have all the perfect gamers enjoying collectively and that it really works out to the place it’s mutually useful for everybody concerned,” Clark stated.
“It is a robust 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 finest 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 Taking part in By way of. Make sure to take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You’ll be able to comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko as properly.
