Wyndham Clark did not have the flawless opening round he might have wanted at the Travelers Championship, but when he walked off the course Thursday, there was one thing that stood out immediately. The atmosphere at TPC River Highlands could hardly have been more different from what he experienced just a week earlier at the U.S. Open.
Clark carded a two-under-par 68 despite suffering a costly triple bogey seven on the par-four 12th. Without that single mistake, the American would have been sitting at five under par and firmly among the leaders after the opening round. Instead, he finished five shots off the pace with three rounds still remaining, leaving himself plenty of time to climb the leaderboard.
Considering Clark’s ability to put together extremely low rounds, he remains well within striking distance heading into the weekend.
Wyndham Clark welcomes the change in crowd support
The change in atmosphere was impossible to ignore. Last week at Shinnecock Hills, Clark endured persistent abuse from sections of the gallery throughout the U.S. Open. The treatment became one of the tournament’s talking points, with many observers criticizing the behavior directed toward the reigning champion. While professional golfers expect noise and passionate crowds, some of the comments Clark faced crossed a line.
Thursday in Cromwell offered a welcome contrast. Asked after his round what he thought of the fans at the Travelers Championship, Clark did not hide his appreciation. “They were great,” he said. “They were finally rooting for me instead of against me, so we like the Connecticut fans.”
He continued by explaining just how noticeable the difference felt. “Yeah, it was really nice. I mean, it was definitely a nice welcome here, and it just felt a little easier, and the momentum was easier than maybe last week.”
Clark focuses on the positives despite a triple bogey
For any player, crowd support can influence the rhythm of a round. Golf remains an individual sport where momentum often hinges on confidence, and hearing encouragement instead of hostility can make a meaningful difference over 18 holes.
Clark also took plenty of positives from his own performance, despite the damaging triple bogey.
“No, I played really good,” he said.
“I mean, just really solid. I had one bad swing, made a triple, other than that we would be at 5-under and in a great spot.”
He added that his overall game gave him plenty of confidence.
“So, yeah, no, I feel really pleased with my round. I felt awesome over everything, but just made one bad swing.”
Travelers Championship still wide open
That assessment reflects how close Clark believes he is to putting together a genuinely low score. Outside of the mistake at the 12th, his game appeared steady throughout the day, and his confidence did not seem shaken by the setback.
With 54 holes still to play, Clark remains in a position where one hot round could quickly move him into contention. TPC River Highlands has long rewarded aggressive scoring, and few players have demonstrated the ability to produce birdie streaks as consistently as Clark when his game clicks.
More than anything, though, Thursday offered something that statistics cannot measure. After a difficult week dealing with hostile crowds at the U.S. Open, Clark was greeted by spectators who supported him instead of working against him. That change alone appeared to make the opening round feel considerably easier, providing a far more comfortable start to his week in Connecticut.
