Wyndham Clark expects Europe to be ‘leaking oil’

Wyndham Clark’s eventful start to life as a Ryder Cup player continues.

Not content with calling out Rory McIlroy last week – saying “I want to prove I’m better than him”, no less – the American rookie has now predicted that the Europeans could run out of gas as this week goes on.

Clark, who won the US Open in June, reckons that the amount of golf played by Luke Donald’s men in the build-up to this week will take its toll and he’s hopeful that he and his US counterparts can take full advantage.

“I think the European team, it’s great that they got to play [in recent weeks], but I also think they might be maybe a little mentally fatigued as this week goes on,” said the 29-year-old.

• Ryder Cup: Rory McIlroy takes aim at LIV trio 

• Concerns raised for caddies at Marco Simone

“This is obviously a very intense environment and mentally challenging, and then also you put in a pretty physically demanding golf course being so hilly and up and down that maybe, come Sunday they might be leaking oil and we’ll be fresh.”

Clark added that he took two weeks off from golf after the FedEx Cup and “got my mind right and refreshed”.

“I then kind of really got into grind mode, practised and played quite a bit, worked on my equipment in San Diego with Titleist, made sure that was all good.

“Then last week played a lot of money games at Whisper Rock with a lot of good players, and then Max [Homa] and I played best ball and alternate shot multiple days against other good players.”

Safe to say he’ll be playing with Homa at least once across Friday and Saturday, then…

• A Ryder Cup in Saudi Arabia? Don’t rule it out…

• Rich Beem weighs in on LIV golfers playing in Ryder Cup

Clark also expanded on the comments he made about McIlroy last week.

“When the guy asked it to me, what am I supposed to say?” he added. “If I say I think he’s better than me and he’s going to beat me, then I’m going to get ridiculed because people don’t think I have any self-belief; and then if I have self-belief, which I do in myself, people take it out of context either way, so it was kind of a tough question.

“I don’t know if Rory saw the full interview or if he just saw the little snippet that everyone is running with or if he’s seen it at all. I have not seen him or talked to him. I would love to talk to him because I imagine he’d probably give me some jabs here and there.

“Like I said, I have so much respect for Rory. I’ve always looked up to him. Even when I was in college, Rory was winning majors. I’m like, man, one day I’d love to be Rory McIlroy.

“By no means did I say anything that was trying to belittle what he did or be cocky or arrogant; it’s more just self-belief in myself. I’d love to get a chance to play against him this week, and if it doesn’t happen, that’s fine.”

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor