Wyndham Clark has developed a reputation for being a fiery and emotional player, to put it mildly.
He didn’t exactly endear himself to golf fans when he smashed up a locker during the US Open, which saw Wyndham Clark banned from Oakmont Country Club.
And unfortunately for the American, this was the most prominent example on a long list of instances where he’s lost his cool.
And while his talent was undeniable, having won the US Open in 2023, Clark’s 2025 form left much to be desired. He had two top-fives and five missed cuts on the season, and never truly contended for any of the major tournaments.
His opening day at the Hero World Challenge was a step in the right direction. He finished Thursday’s play with a share of the lead at six-under par. But Clark still had a major complaint about the course at Tiger Woods’ event.
Wyndham Clark’s complaint about Hero World Challenge golf course
Clark played well on his opening round at the Hero World Challenge, matching Scottie Scheffler’s effort with a round of 66. But he wasn’t happy about the state of Albany.
Bermuda grass always poses a challenge for players, especially in the short game, which is where Scheffler struggled more than anyone else in the field during his opening round.
But when Clark was asked what made the grass so challenging to play on, he slammed the state of the course. He said, “Do you want the politically correct answer? It’s not in good shape. You’re always chipping into the grain, and there’s a lot of chips that are up and over, so you have to chip up.
Do you agree with our Hero World Challenge predictions?
Peter Lynch: It’s almost impossible to look past Scottie Scheffler for this one. He’s dominated the event and dominated 2025, so why not keep winning? 🏆️
Charlie Walker: Yes, Scottie Scheffler has dominated this event in years past, but I’m giving the nod to Cameron Young this time around! Young picked up his first PGA Tour win shortly before the Ryder Cup and was one of the standout performers at Bethpage Black. He’s never been higher on confidence, and he’s shown he can compete with the very best in the world when the lights are brightest. ⛳
James Shearman: Scottie Scheffler could easily defend his title, but he has not played in a competitive event since the Ryder Cup in September. J.J. Spaun should be more up to speed after finishing T11 at the World Wide Technology Championship last month. 💰️
Jordan Harris: Scottie Scheffler has never finished worse than second at the Hero World Challenge, and this week does not have the strongest field. So it looks like a seventh win of 2025 for the world number one is on the cards. 🏌️♂️
“And you’re coming from really bad lies in Bermuda, and you have to hit it up and there’s just very little margin for error.”
In fairness to Clark, he wasn’t alone in saying how difficult the grass was proving to play on.
Sepp Straka explains why chipping is difficult at the Hero World Challenge
Sepp Straka, fresh off the back of Europe’s Ryder Cup win in New York, is also tied for the lead in the Bahamas.
He explained what makes this course so difficult around the greens: “It’s so grainy. It’s really grainy, and the greens are, most of them are just subtly raised. It’s nothing crazy.
“Like if it was an easy lie, it wouldn’t be too bad, but they’re just raised enough to where, into the grain, it’s hard to bump it into the slopes, and if your lie’s into the grain, you can’t really loft it up.
“You have to get a little creative sometimes in trying to figure out a way to get the ball close to the hole.”
With five players tied at six-under, the course can’t be playing too difficult. And it’s nice to see the best players on the planet faced with a unique challenge from time to time!
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