Presidents Cup Crowd Criticism
Wyndham Clark criticizes a subdued crowd after winning his opening Presidents Cup match.
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Key Points
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Clark and Morikawa defeated Ryan Fox and Adam Scott 3&2; Clark made four birdies over the first eight holes, but the crowd’s response did not match their performance.
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Across 37 holes in Thursday’s five matches, the teams made just 22 birdies, illustrating how few scoring bursts there were to energize spectators.
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The opening ceremony featured Bill Murray presenting the trophy, Chicago Blackhawks anthem singer Jim Cornelison performing the national anthem, and a military flyover.
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The article noted a recent contrast in fan expectations: before the 2025 Ryder Cup, Morikawa had urged fans to bring energy, but the article said even the crowds around Bethpage Black’s first tee had little sustained enthusiasm during that competition.
Wyndham Clark urged fans to bring more energy to the 2026 Presidents Cup at Medinah after the opening day felt subdued, despite the United States taking a 3-2 lead over the International team. Golf.com reported that Clark criticized the crowd's muted response, even after he and partner Collin Morikawa posted strong performances in their 3&2 victory over Ryan Fox and Adam Scott.
U.S. captain Brandt Snedeker acknowledged the atmosphere felt unusual, noting the crowd was loud at the first tee but faded as the day progressed. TalkSport reported that across Thursday's 37 holes of competition, just 22 birdies were made — a low scoring total that left few moments to excite spectators despite a lively opening ceremony featuring Bill Murray and a military flyover.
Clark's Frustration With Muted Fan Response
Clark felt the crowd failed to match the quality of play on display. Golf Monthly reported that even after Morikawa hit a strong shot, spectators offered little applause. Clark made four birdies in the first eight holes, yet the energy remained flat. The pair's decisive 3&2 victory should have energized the home crowd, but the atmosphere remained subdued throughout their match.
Low Scoring Made It Hard To Build Momentum
The difficult course setup at Medinah limited scoring chances across the day. Bunkered.co.uk noted that only 22 birdies were made across all five Thursday matches on 37 total holes. When birdie chances dry up, fans lose key moments to cheer. The challenging viewing areas and setup further reduced the crowd's ability to feel connected to the action, creating a disconnect between fan engagement and player performance.
Snedeker Confident Crowds Will Return For Day Two
Snedeker agreed the opening day felt odd but expressed faith fans would show up with more volume in future rounds. TalkSport reported that Snedeker said the first tee crowd was loud initially but noise faded as matches spread across the course. He predicted the atmosphere would improve as the event continued. The U.S. team's early 3-2 advantage also set a positive tone, though organizers will need to manage expectations around course difficulty and fan positioning moving forward.
Sentiment
Mostly NegativeNEGATIVENEUTRALPOSITIVE
Publishers
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Reach
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