THE PRESIDENTS CUP

September 25, 2024

Wyndham Clark

Royal Montreal Golf Club

Press Conference

Q. (Indiscernible.) Anything surprising from that experience that you weren't expecting?

WYNDHAM CLARK: Yeah, I mean, one of the biggest things is just the amount of stuff we have to do during the week. You know, normal in tournament you show up and it's kind of whatever your time is and you plan your day accordingly.

You get to these team events and it's, all right, hey, we're leaving at 7:00 regardless if you want to. We have three hours of practice. And then you got this, and then this and that. Then a bus is leaving at this time.

So you have to fit everything in. Definitely say it's one of the -- was one of the surprising things. And then the other thing is obviously you hear everyone gets really close and they really enjoy each other and the camaraderie is great.

Until you really experience it, you don't realize that that's really what happens. We spend so much time together. There is so much trash talking and encouragement and rooting each other on, all the great things that happen on teams, it really does happen for Team USA.

Those are probably the two things.

Q. (Regarding playing at home in Colorado.)

WYNDHAM CLARK: Yeah, I mean, it was awesome. It was an amazing experience. The fans in Colorado really embraced me and cheered me on. Felt amazing. I was really bummed how I finished. I would've loved to have won that or at least had a chance. You know, just maybe had a little better last few holes.

But when I look back at it, I felt like I made my city and state proud. You know, I'm bummed that it might not happen for another five, ten years, who knows. All in all, it was an amazing experience and I had so much fun that week.

Q. (Regarding Olympics, Presidents Cup, Ryder Cup.)

WYNDHAM CLARK: Yeah, I think any time you're at these stages you gain fans, you grow as maybe a hometown favorite in Colorado or sometimes for your country.

You know, I notice when I was there that people were bringing up the Olympics and bringing up Team USA stuff, which was really neat. And so I just, yeah, feel like I've been very blessed in the things I've been able to do. Things like that continue to add to that.

Q. Since you won your major, now you are playing on this team. (Indiscernible.)

WYNDHAM CLARK: Yeah, you know, it's kind of -- all depends on how I handle the expectations. You know, everyone else puts a lot of expectations on players as you start having success. I put a lot on myself as well.

But one thing I will say is playing and competing in majors and winning majors and tournaments and playing on these teams makes you want to do it more and more and be part of it all the time. It's the best motivator for getting to the top.

You know, the biggest thing is you want to stay up there and climb higher. I'm really looking forward to the challenge. I get a great off-season after this event where I get to work and kind of recap over the last two years and go, okay, how can I improve? How can I get better? How can I move from where I am now to higher up in the world and make sure I make the Ryder Cup team for next year.

Q. To that point, how do you assess (indiscernible).

WYNDHAM CLARK: I've said this in a few interviews. I don't really try to do result goals. I try to do a lot of process stuff, and a lot of things that getting better in certain areas of my game. So like certain stats I want to get better at, certain things mentally I have to get better at. I really didn't do very well in my par-5s this year is one thing that really bothered me and gets to me, is my scoring chance holes I was, I thought, very poor.

So that's something I look at this fall where I'm going to work on figuring out why this is. Was it a mental thing? Is it a technical thing? Then tackle that and then you set the goal, okay, this year we were, let's just say 90th in scoring chances. Let's try to get to 50th. That's how I approach the goals.

It's really a fun part of the year when you forecast what you want the year to be like, set all the goals, and then if you go and accomplish it, it's kind of the most rewarding thing in what we do.

Q. Do you think it's harder to get to the top or stay at the top?

WYNDHAM CLARK: It's a tough question. I don't know. I feel like I would say probably get to the top. I think staying -- I don't know. It's a tough question. All I will say is once you get up here I feel like you play in these events with great players and I feel like the confidence and success breeds more success.

Being around these really good players and being in those moments, I just think you start owning it and you have more and more self-belief and confidence that you can continue to do it, versus maybe a few years ago when I wasn't at the top, you start sometimes doubting your ability to do it.

So that's maybe for me. Might be different for other people.

Q. Now that you're at this stage, how do you manage the expectations?

WYNDHAM CLARK: Yeah, it's been one of the hardest things. This year I started out very good playing great golf and my expectations were awesome, and then I found myself falling short a couple times to Scottie, actually three times, and then I started really focusing on results; then I got into a lull of not playing as good.

At the end of the year I got back in the process of not focusing on the expectations, the results, and then I strung along a handful of Top 10s and Top 5 finishes, which kind of was nice to cap the year off that way.

So next year one of my big goals is to try to limit the amount of times that I focus on expectations and scoring.

So it's tough. I mean, that is, I think, probably once you get to the top, probably one of the biggest struggles is your expectations or other people's expectations.

Q. What's it like to be on a team with a guy like Scottie?

WYNDHAM CLARK: Yeah, I mean, Scottie is the best player in the world right now. You know, he's not only a great player but a great human. I really enjoy being around him and learning from him. I enjoy beating him. But what's great is on a team like this, now I root for him, which is really fun. There is so much you can learn in these team rooms and practice rounds.

You know, we're the 12 best players in the U.S. right now. You can just feed off each other and guys are willing to give advice and ask questions to learn things.

So I'm trying to be a sponge as much as I can to soak those things up.

Q. (Indiscernible.) How much does recalibration coming into this week knowing the schedule is not exactly your schedule?

WYNDHAM CLARK: Yeah, I think it's learning. The first -- my first team experience I didn't know what was happening. I expected I would have some time to prepare when I got there. I really didn't, so I felt like I wasn't as sharp as I wanted to be last Ryder Cup.

This time in preparation I made sure I was prepared. I played Napa. I practiced a lot more than I did leading into last year's Ryder Cup, so that helps.

But then also it's just now knowing that and having the expectation that, hey, this is a fun week. Enjoy the camaraderie. But when you get a chance to practice and grind, take advantage of it.

We don't get as much sleep. It's very busy. I think just when you get more -- I just feel like it's an experience. Now I'm getting more and more experience and I'll feel more and more comfortable.

Q. Is it one you enjoy? There is so much going on. Are you able to enjoy it in the moment?

WYNDHAM CLARK: Yeah, it's so much fun. This experience thus far for this Presidents Cup has been amazing. It's a long bus ride to and from the golf course, but that's where a lot of the fun stuff happens. Our team room is so much fun. Our matches that we've had against each other have been great.

That's really the stuff you remember. Obviously the competition is fun. We might look back and you remember a couple things here and there, but a lot of stuff is the fun things that happen in the team rooms and the bus rides and just the fun jokes and pranks we play on each other.

Q. You spent some time with the Junior Presidents Cuppers. Why did you make sure to chat with them? What type of stuff did you guys talk about?

WYNDHAM CLARK: First off, they won, so it was a huge congrats to them. That was amazing. I don't even know if we had the Junior Presidents Cups teams when I was a junior. We had the Junior Ryder Cup, but not the Presidents Cup.

You know, it's amazing to represent our country. You know, I chatted with them because I was in that -- I was that kid one day or back in the day. Wanted to be in the position I am now, and I know how much it means for them.

So it was fun to chat with them. You know, not saying that I would make their day, but I know that if I was in their position and a TOUR pro took his time to talk to me, took time to ask questions, get to know them, give tidbits, it would've made my day.

I hope I did that for them.

Q. Did they ask about ping pong?

WYNDHAM CLARK: They did, and Scottie, by the way has not played any of us and he thinks he's the best. I've played most of the guys on our team and I've waxed all of them, so I want to play Scottie. So I said I was.

Q. Who would most likely to be late?

WYNDHAM CLARK: Late? I mean, Xander. Xander and Tony. They're always pretty late.

Q. Who would you least want to pass the... (regarding music).

WYNDHAM CLARK: Patrick Cantlay for sure. It would be the most boring classic rock. I mean, I like classic rock, but it would be just like vanilla music.

Q. Is there a swing on your team that you're jealous of?

WYNDHAM CLARK: On our team? Yeah, I mean, might shock you, but I love Scottie's swing. I think he has the best setup and face control on our team and in the world. Even though he has crazy foot action, I love what he does with the club and how his body moves.

Q. (Indiscernible.) And why or why not?

WYNDHAM CLARK: Tough question. You know, here is what I will say: I know that representing Team USA is an amazing accomplishment, and we're all very fortunate to be able to do that.

With that said, I think there is a lot of money that's being made at these events. You know, there is arguments both ways. All I'll say is if Presidents Cup or Ryder Cup make a few 100 million and we're not getting anything from it, it seems a little unfair.

At the same time, I just feel blessed to be on this team. I go to the Olympics and there is no money and I feel honored to play for Team USA. I am kind of staying in the middle. I get both sides. I'm just happy to be here.

Q. What's it like having Keegan in the role?

WYNDHAM CLARK: It's been awesome. I played a couple practice rounds with Keegan this week. I haven't spent much time around him. He's older than me and kind of in different walks of life. He's kind of -- not that he's -- his career is done by any means, but he's on the back end of his career and I'm in the beginning of mine.

It's great to be around him. He even admitted five weeks ago he was like, I was ready to come up here and be a captain and it's quickly changed. The fun thing is he talked with us about obviously next year and talking about the Ryder Cup.

Says, hey, this is a starting block now. This week is huge for Team USA for next year's Ryder Cup. He's so positive and such a great leader. I'm really excited that he's our captain and excited he's on this team. He's playing great golf and had a lot of success in these events.