MEN'S OLYMPIC GOLF COMPETITION

August 4, 2024

Wyndham Clark

Le Golf National

Quick Quotes

Q. Great Saturday and Sunday. What clicked and what happened? What shifted?

WYNDHAM CLARK: I mean, I just started out poorly and then missed some putts and then it just seemed like nothing went right the first day. And then played really nicely the second day, as well, just unfortunately finished with a double. But then, yeah, these last two days have been really good form, yeah.

Yeah, I mean, I played really good golf. I just started -- the first nine holes was terrible and one bad 18th hole and things might be a little different.

Q. Did you hear any of the sort of Twitter early on; this guy, starting terrible, spending too much time at the event?

WYNDHAM CLARK: I didn't hear any of that but I knew some other stuff. I think some of it wasn't very justified because you know, I was the highest-ranked player, third-highest ranked player for the U.S. to come here. Yeah, poor start. I don't think it has anything to do with attending events or not attending events.

This potentially could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and to be able to go watch events, spend time in the Village and get the full experience, may never get that again. So I wanted to make sure I did everything right. I don't regret anything I did.

Once I got to Tuesday, I shut everything down and was ready to go. I played really good golf for 60 holes. I just had nine bad holes.

Q. As opposed to regretting it, I think you're on the opposite side.

WYNDHAM CLARK: To anyone that thinks otherwise -- to finish first, second or third in any tournament is very hard, and when those are the only three places that actually receive anything, I think it kind of changes your expectations a little bit because golf, it's really hard to time everything perfectly every single week and especially for one week.

I wanted to enjoy every minute and I felt like I had, and so yeah, it's been an amazing week for me.

Q. With that as the backdrop, knowing there's only three things -- we know there's World Ranking points and stuff, but three spots, how did you bounce back? It would have been easy to mail it in after the tough start.

WYNDHAM CLARK: I think it's more pride for myself and my country. I wanted to make sure that I showed up for my country. I didn't want anyone to think that I was doing this as just an exhibition or just coming here to have fun. I was serious about it. I was very pissed after round one because I wanted to medal. So I'm really bummed about it.

But at the same time, I said this is for something greater than myself. It's for my country and it also builds a lot of momentum for the Playoffs that we have coming up.

Q. Was that just nerves at the beginning?

WYNDHAM CLARK: Yeah, I've actually been struggling a lot with my starts, and it's been tough to overcome, especially the majors, I started so poorly and then as I get to the back nine on Friday and I start playing really good golf, I barely missed the cut, and some of the cuts that I did make, then I back-doored into the top 10.

So starting poorly, that's something I've really got to work on; at least just get out of the gates somewhat solid; I feel like I can play good on the weekend.

Q. Any highlights so far? Are you staying next week?

WYNDHAM CLARK: Outside of the golf, I would say the highlight -- the golf, honestly, getting announced every day on the first tee, outside of the Ryder Cup, that was probably the coolest first tee experience I think in golf. So that's been really neat.

And then I attended the swimming and gymnastics and I got to see -- I can't think of his name right now, the Frenchman, I saw him win his first Gold which was unbelievable. Then I saw our women go Gold, silver in I think the 200 free or something like that. Then watching Simone Biles and the team win, that was pretty epic. Those are probably my three highlights.

Q. Are you out of here now?

WYNDHAM CLARK: I'm going to hopefully put on my gear and go cheer on Xander and Scottie to hopefully get a medal. Team USA, representing my country, and going to go support them. After that, we are going to go to track tonight. We are going to tie off the week with an amazing experience.