Two-time U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark stepped onto the practice range at Royal Birkdale on Monday and pulled out something straight out of a sitcom: a wooden coat hanger. Yeah, you read that right. He's a major winner, folks, so when he's doing something this wild, you gotta pay attention to why he’s doing it.
Clark's Wild Swing Fix: The Hanger Technique
So, what's the deal with the hanger? Clark isn't messing around. He admitted his swing has "gotten a little off" and that he "kind of hit it kind of crappy" at last week's Genesis Scottish Open. You can't come into The Open Championship with a "crappy" swing, especially after winning a U.S. Open just last month at Shinnecock. Clark explained that the coat hanger is all about wrist angle, aiming for "a little more inflection in my left wrist so I can square the face more." It’s a specific fix for a specific problem, and he typically hits 15 to 20 shots with this unusual aid. Considering he finished T13 and eight strokes back from the winner, Tom Kim, at the Scottish, it's clear he's serious about getting things dialed in. This isn't just some random experiment, it's a champion's desperate measure to fix his game right before a major.New Rules, Old Habits: The R&A Is Watching
This year's Open Championship also comes with some heavy new expectations for player conduct, and Clark knows a thing or two about that. He was on the receiving end of "considerable fan abuse" at Shinnecock, something he said he "overcame all of the challenges" to win through. He's also got a history with, shall we say, emotional displays: smashing a locker at the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont and his driver at the 2025 PGA Championship. Now, the R&A, the organizing body, is cracking down. They've stated that if a player's behavior is "so far removed from what is expected," they can issue an official warning, a two-stroke penalty, or even disqualification, all without a prior warning. While Clark was buttering up the British crowds on Monday, calling them "the best" and appreciating their respect for the game, you gotta wonder if those past incidents mean he's on a short leash. Clark tees off at 10:04 a.m. ET on Thursday alongside Cameron Young and Ludvig Aberg. Will the coat hanger magic have clicked, or will the pressure of the R&A's new rules affect his game? Get ready, because The Open Championship just got a whole lot more interesting.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.