Wyndham Clark Says Medinah Crowd Was Too Quiet In USA's Day One Win
Team USA opened a 3-2 lead over the Internationals in Thursday's four-ball matches at the Presidents Cup, but Wyndham Clark says the Medinah galleries need to find their voice.
Team USA moved 3-2 ahead after the opening four-ball session of the Presidents Cup at Medinah, but the celebrations were tempered by criticism of the home support from one of the day's winners.
Wyndham Clark partnered Collin Morikawa to a 3&2 victory over Ryan Fox and Adam Scott, yet said afterwards that the atmosphere had failed to match expectations for a home Presidents Cup.
Clark said the crowd's muted response cost the American pairing some momentum, describing the galleries as "kind of dead out there" and adding that he and Morikawa "weren't really feeling the fans" as much as usual.
He pointed to one moment in particular, when Morikawa struck an approach with a five-wood to around ten feet, only for the shot to go unacknowledged because spectators were unsure whether the ball had found the green.
Clark framed his comments as a challenge to the crowd rather than a complaint, saying he hoped the fans would be fully behind the team from Friday's foursomes onward regardless of the scoreline.
Captain Brandt Snedeker acknowledged the same dip in noise, noting that the first tee had been lively before the atmosphere gradually faded through the round.
Snedeker suggested the difficulty of the course setup, with demanding pin positions limiting birdie chances, may have played a part in keeping the galleries subdued, alongside some holes at Medinah where spectators struggle to see the action.
Despite the quiet surroundings, Snedeker expressed confidence that Chicago's golf fans would raise the volume as the competition continues, saying it would fall to his players to produce the kind of golf that draws a crowd into the contest.
The Presidents Cup traditionally generates a calmer atmosphere than the Ryder Cup, and after the heightened tensions at Bethpage last year, a steadier tone from the home support may not trouble organisers unduly.
Team USA will look to build on their first-day advantage when the foursomes matches get under way on Friday at Medinah, with Snedeker's side aiming to extend their lead over the Internationals.