Golf fans often say the sport is too quiet, too polite, and not exciting enough. But when a player shows strong emotions, some fans criticize that too. Paige Spiranac says she is tired of seeing that double standard, especially when it is directed at Wyndham Clark.

Spiranac shared her reaction on X on June 23, one day after Clark won the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills.

Clark had spent the weekend absorbing boos and jeers from the crowd before closing out his second U.S. Open title.

"The hate for Wyndham Clark doesn't make sense to me," Spiranac wrote in X. "People complain constantly that golfers are boring and show no emotion. But then you have someone who has a fiery, competitive spirit, and that's also a problem."

Spiranac said she understands that sports fans often like to have a villain to root against. However, she believes the criticism can go too far, especially when an athlete has already admitted their mistake and taken responsibility for it.

" I just feel that it’s been taken too far at this point," she added.

Her comments add to a larger debate in the golf world. Golf Channel analyst Eamon Lynch blamed the behavior on Long Island fans and criticized them after the tournament.

Spiranac disagreed with that view. She argued that the issue is not where the fans come from, but that negative behavior online has changed how fans act everywhere.

"I don't think the behavior at the US Open has anything to do with New York or the growth of golf," she wrote on X, reacting to the Foreplay podcast. "There has been a shift in recent years where people have become downright nasty."

Spiranac suggested that the negativity may come from people feeling worn down by everyday life or from the lack of consequences for being hateful online.

She said negative behavior has become more noticeable and believes that constantly being surrounded by negativity on the internet can eventually affect how people act in real life.

What Wyndham Clark Said About the Crowd

Fans at Shinnecock Hills largely backed Scottie Scheffler as he was chasing a career Grand Slam. Clark said he expected some backlash, but he did not expect it to become as big as it did.

"I knew I'd hear some chirps, but I didn't think people would cheer against me," he said.

Clark told CBS News that he expected some negative reactions from the crowd and was prepared for them with the help of his sports psychologist. 

He said that whenever he heard something negative, he would replace it with a positive thought. He also tried to stay positive by smiling at people in the crowd and reminding himself that he wanted to handle the situation with kindness and love.

The plan held up under pressure. Clark bogeyed three of his first seven holes Sunday, watching a six-shot lead shrink to one. "I wanted to kind of silence the crowd, and on 16, I made a huge putt, and I feel like I was the only one that yelled," he said.

He closed with a 3-over 73, edging Sam Burns by one stroke for his second U.S. Open title.

Do you think golf crowds have gotten too hostile toward players? Drop your thoughts in the comments.

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Written by

Sneha Abraham

Edited by

Koushik Biswas