Jerod Ringwald-Imagn Images
Sep 24, 2026; Medinah, Illinois, USA; U.S.A. fans cheer at the first tee during the first round of the Presidents Cup. Sep 24, 2026; Medinah, Illinois, USA; Wyndham Clark of the U.S. Team celebrates after a putt on hole eight during the first round of the Presidents Cup.
At last year’s Ryder Cup in Bethpage, New York, not only did Team USA lose on home soil to Team Europe, but fans spent the entire week being told that they were too rowdy.
While stars like Scottie Scheffler and Bryson DeChambeau played some of the least inspired team golf in you’re life, attendees were regularly chided for being too hard on the Europeans and not supportive enough of Team USA players.
“Come and support your home team. Come and support your team,” Rory McIlroy emphasized. “I think if I was an American, I would be annoyed that … I didn’t hear a lot of shouts for Scottie today but I heard a lot of shouts against me. And it’s like… Support your players.”
This week, Team USA is squaring off with the rest of the world at the President’s Cup at Medinah Country Club in Illinois, and after a moderately successful first session of four-ball that saw the Americans take a 3-2 lead, fans are yet again in the spotlight.
This time, however, they’re not being rowdy enough.
“It was kind of dead out there.”
Wyndham Clark calls out the fans at Medinah today for not being rowdy enough 👀
Do you agree? pic.twitter.com/NYlYUBHiHr
— Fore Play (@ForePlayPod) September 24, 2026
Wyndham Clark Calls Out Team USA Fans At President’s Cup
To his credit, reigning U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark did his part for Team USA on Thursday. According to Data Golf, Clark was one of the best players on the course, carrying Colin Morikawa to a 3&2 victory over the team of Ryan Fox and Adam Scott.
Afterward, however, Clark had some issues with the lack of energy from fans around the course.
“It was kind of dead out there,” the polarizing star said of the atmosphere. “I felt like the momentum could have been better, to be honest, because we weren’t really feeling the fans, I think, as much as normal.
“There was a few shots, I mean, Collin hit a 5-wood on, what was it, 11 to like 10 feet, and we didn’t even know if it was on the green because no one clapped. It was a little surprising. We’d make some big putts. I’m saying this more as a challenge that, hopefully, tomorrow and the weekend, the fans are out there really rooting us on, and regardless of what happens, we have the momentum.”
Now, it’s notable that Clark did not play in the Ryder Cup a year ago. And in his previous two international events, Team USA was the away team.
So perhaps he’s just not used to what a normal President’s Cup crowd looks like. The event certainly lacks the same kind of juice that the Ryder Cup has.
But what exactly does Team USA want from fans? If they yell too much, they’re over he top. If they’re polite, it’s too quiet. At this point, it feels like fans can’t win.