Wyndham Clark came under a bit of scrutiny during the final round of the BMW Championship on Sunday before stepping into the winner's circle. It's not the first time he's been caught in the crosshairs of golf fans, and he has learned from past experience that people will simply think what they want.
After hitting his tee shot in the rough on the Par 4 14th hole at Bellerive Country Club, the CBS broadcast showed the two-time U.S. Open champion going through his pre-shot routine, which included him taking an iron out of his bag, placing it behind the ball, and taking a few practice swings next to it.
Clark then went back to his golf bag, grabbed another iron, and placed it behind the ball. His caddie, David Pelekoudas, stepped between Clark and the camera while he made another practice swing before he went back to his bag for another iron. After the club changes and several times he sat his club behind the ball, CBS analysts Trevor Immelman and Frank Nobilo had a notable back-and-forth.
"He’s taking a long look at this. This is like the third club that he’s placed down behind the ball there," Immelman said before Nobilo stated, "So the lie might be better."
With the comments heard on the broadcast, coupled with golf fans on social media tossing around accusations, the moment became a major talking point on Sunday before Clark ultimately secured a three-shot victory.
Clark was asked about the viral moment during Tuesday's news conference ahead of this week's Tour Championship, and explained that in no way did he approve his lie by placing multiple irons behind his golf ball.
"I think any player, when they're trying to judge a lie, takes out different clubs to see what it feels like," Clark explained. I never fully put the club down behind it. I don't think anything of it.
"When the cameras are on you, they're going to find anything. And I think you saw that in Bryson's case. It happened to me at the U.S. Open, it happened to me at Bay Hill. It's happened to a lot of guys where they can see stuff that maybe looks like something that maybe it's not. That lie was never bad. It was more just judging what it was. By no means did I take a bad lie and make it really good.
"People can think what they want. I know I didn't do anything that was costing the integrity of the field. That's all I've got to say about that."
Players are allowed to "ground the club lightly right in front of or right behind the ball," according to USGA Rule 8.1b(4).
Clark, as he alluded to in his remarks, came under fire at Shinnecock Hills earlier this year during his U.S. Open victory when he was accused of improving his lie before hitting a short approach shot.
The 32-year-old has picked up three wins in 2026 and enters the Tour Championship third in the FedEx Cup standings behind Matt Fitzpatrick and leader Scottie Scheffler.