How Wyndham Clark can undo his Oakmont ban after damaging clubhouse

USA Today

a day ago

Oakmont Country Club has put Wyndham Clark in timeout after his childish temper tantrum last month.
The 2023 U.S. Open champion was looking to reclaim his title in June when he missed the cut at Oakmont. Clark apparently got way too heated afterwards and began kicking at stalls in the 121-year-old locker room, creating quite the scene and damaging the venue's historic locker room.
Now, according to The Athletic, the club has officially banned Clark from the grounds — but did give him a chance to make amends:
Clark's reinstatement is contingent upon 'a number of specific conditions, including full repayment for damages, a meaningful contribution to a charity of the Board's choosing, and the successful completion of counseling and/or anger management sessions,' according to Lynch's letter.
Clark apologized for the incident at the following week's Traveler's Championship.
"I've had a lot of highs and lows in my career, especially this year some lows. I made a mistake that I deeply regret. I'm very sorry for what happened," Clark said. "But I'd also like to move on, not only for myself but for Oakmont, for the USGA, and kind of focus on the rest of this year and things that come up. I still want to try to make the Ryder Cup team. I still am on the outside looking in for the FedEx Cup. So I'm starting to move on and focus on those things."
Safe to say the USGA and Oakmont did not, in fact, move on. The two entities worked together on the parameters of Clark's banishment.
This isn't just a slap on the wrist, either. Aside from it's status as one of the most prestigious and highly-rated golf clubs in the world, Oakmont is scheduled to host the U.S. Open in 2033, 2042 and 2049. Notably, 2033 is the final year of Clark's 10-year exemption for winning the tournament in 2023.
Unless he agrees to Oakmont's conditions, Clark will have to celebrate a decade as a U.S. Open champion from outside the ropes.