Wyndham Clark arrives at this week’s Travelers Championship as one of the hottest players in golf after a remarkable run that has transformed him from a player searching for form into one of the leading contenders on the PGA Tour.
The American has won two of his last four starts, including a second U.S. Open title in four years, ending a victory drought that stretched back to the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February 2024. His recent surge has also included a third-place finish at the Memorial Tournament and a tie for 11th at the RBC Canadian Open, lifting him to fourth place in the FedEx Cup standings entering the Travelers Championship.
Clark’s resurgence has been particularly notable given that he missed the cut at the PGA Championship shortly before his victory at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. Despite that setback, the 31-year-old believes the foundations of his current form were established before the PGA Championship even began.
“I was a little bummed because I thought, man, this could be our week,” Clark said Wednesday. “I went and fixed that at CJ and then I hit a ton of fairways and then won.”
He said the momentum began building during the weeks leading up to the PGA Championship and only accelerated once he secured a victory.
“Any time you break through and win and make all those putts, you just believe you’re going to keep playing good golf and that’s kind of what I’ve done,” Clark said.
His latest triumph at the U.S. Open came under unusual circumstances. Clark entered the final round at Shinnecock Hills with a commanding six-shot advantage, but many spectators appeared more interested in seeing the leaderboard tighten than watching him cruise to victory.
As challengers closed the gap several times during the round, sections of the crowd openly cheered for a dramatic comeback. Clark’s lead was reduced to a single stroke on multiple occasions, yet he never relinquished control and ultimately secured the championship.
The atmosphere prompted discussion throughout the golf world about changing fan behavior and the impact of the sport’s growing popularity. Defending Travelers Championship winner Keegan Bradley suggested earlier this week that golf’s expanding audience can sometimes create challenges for players.
Clark, however, views the changing environment differently.
“I don’t really see any negative in more people coming to golf,” he said.
Referencing the movie Happy Gilmore, Clark joked that passionate and unconventional fans are a sign that the sport is attracting new audiences.
“Golf is cool right now,” he said. “That’s going to bring cool people, and they’re going to want to watch golf and they might react differently.”
While acknowledging that fan behavior in New York can sometimes be more intense than elsewhere, Clark said he believes increased interest in the game ultimately benefits the sport.
Beyond his recent success on the course, Clark also expressed strong support for the PGA Tour’s future direction following the announcement of a revamped promotion and relegation system scheduled to begin in 2028.
Under the new structure, the Tour plans to introduce a higher-tier Championship Series and a lower-tier Challenger Series, creating a more dynamic pathway between competitive levels. Clark said he believes the changes will make the sport easier for fans to follow while increasing the stakes throughout the season.
He was particularly enthusiastic about the decision to transform the season-ending Tour Championship into a match-play competition.
“I think it’s going to be easier for fans to understand,” Clark said. “When you’re watching a PGA Tour Championship Series you’re going to see all the best players.”
Clark added that promotion and relegation would generate additional excitement by giving players more to compete for throughout the year.
“I love the idea of the relegation and promotion,” he said. “I just think that will add so much excitement for the fans.”
The former U.S. Open champion also praised incoming PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp and the organization’s leadership for pursuing changes aimed at strengthening the future of professional golf.
“It seems like golf’s in a great place and that our team and representatives are making the necessary changes,” Clark said. “I’m all on board. I think it’s awesome.”
For now, however, Clark’s attention remains fixed on maintaining the momentum that has carried him through one of the most productive stretches of his career. With two victories in his last four starts and confidence at a season high, he enters the Travelers Championship as one of the tournament favorites and one of the PGA Tour’s most in-form players.
Another strong performance this week would further strengthen his position in the FedEx Cup race and reinforce the belief that his recent run is not a temporary surge but the beginning of another sustained period among golf’s elite.
