The 2025 US Open sparked tears of joy and disbelief for JJ Spaun.
The 34-year-old American – a journeyman on the PGA Tour who believed his career was reaching its end point only 12 months ago – had just done the improbable.
Spaun recovered from a nightmare start, bad break after bad break, a 96-minute rain delay, a flooded golf course and an inspired Robert MacIntyre to etch his name into the history books.
His victory was sealed with a sloping, 64-foot birdie putt on a perfect line that his caddie, Mark Carens, believed was provided by his late father.
It was pure, undiluted joy and drama that perhaps can only be found at a US Open.
We can only imagine what a whirlwind it has been for Spaun in the days since.
When Spaun’s winning putt dropped, Wyndham Clark was likely already at home licking his wounds following consecutive rounds of 74 that saw him miss the cut by one stroke.
Clark, the 2023 US Open champion, reportedly took out his frustration by allegedly damaging two locker room doors at Oakmont.
An image circulated on social media via NLU’s Tron Carter which appeared to show Clark’s Titleist staff bag next to the damage.
“I’ve seen worse,” another former champion, Graeme McDowell, chimed in.
Ian Poulter later admitted he too has been guilty of such acts, though the Postman was quick to remind everyone he always paid his fines (classy) and generally he has only inflicted damage on the temporary build lockers (pumps chest).
Clark has already returned to the course and is among the 72-player field at this week’s signature Travelers Championship.
But he has either ignored or ducked reporters who are on site in Connecticut.
The silence is deafening.
This is not the first time this year Clark has made the headlines for acting improperly at a major championship.
Only last month Clark was filmed launching his driver into an advertising board after hitting an errant tee shot at Quail Hollow during the final round of the PGA Championship.
Clark wrote a lengthy statement apologising for his actions and promised to be better in the future.
Had Clark not been guilty of inflicting the latest damage, then surely he would have wanted to correct the record as quickly as possible.
One suspects Camp Clark believe there is nothing positive that can be gleaned from acknowledging his alleged outburst and hope the matter is quickly forgotten about and swept under the carpet.
And there is a high likelihood Clark has already paid for the damage and apologised to Oakmont’s members.
But I think it’s high time that golf’s governing bodies start to disclose fines issued for poor behaviour because to not do so only encourages more of the same from some of these pampered and downright entitled professional golfers.
This behaviour is simply unacceptable.
Had you or I inflicted damage at a golf club then we would be asked to make sure the door didn’t hit us on our way out.
Golf is supposed to be about integrity and accountability.
This opaque process doesn’t protect the game, it diminishes it.