Donald Trump’s golf connection with Wyndham Clark has put a detail from the U.S. Open champion’s career back in the spotlight. Clark revealed that Trump remembered specific shots from his 2023 U.S. Open victory at Los Angeles Country Club, where Clark won his first major title.
Clark said the detail caught him off guard because Trump referenced individual up-and-downs from the final round. The exchange resurfaced around the 2026 Presidents Cup at Medinah, where Clark represented the U.S. team, and Trump attended Sunday’s final session as honorary chairman.
Clark’s first Trump call came after his breakthrough major
The story dates to 2023, when Clark won his first major at Los Angeles Country Club. He defeated Rory McIlroy by one stroke. Clark said the call came as his family was celebrating the biggest victory of his career to that point.
After the victory, Clark received a phone call from Trump, then a former president. Clark said the call lasted a few minutes and was placed on speaker with his family. Clark revisited the conversation before the Presidents Cup. He described it as “one of the coolest calls of my life,” especially because of Trump’s knowledge.
The memory of that conversation has stayed with Clark as his career progressed. He later recalled that Trump spoke about the significance of the victory and discussed golf in detail, which made the unexpected call particularly memorable for the major champion.
Trump remembered details from Clark’s U.S. Open
Clark said the most striking part was Trump’s familiarity with his winning performance. Instead of general congratulations, Trump referenced individual shots and up-and-downs.
“He knew every shot,” Clark said. He recalled Trump mentioning one up-and-down on a hole, then another, while praising his difficult recoveries. Clark said that level of detail caught him off guard.
For Clark, the detailed recollection made the conversation stand out from a routine congratulatory call. He said Trump’s comments showed that he had followed the final round closely rather than simply learning the result afterward.
Clark’s 2026 U.S. Open made the story more relevant
Clark’s latest major victory came at Shinnecock Hills in June, where he went wire to wire for his second U.S. Open. He closed with a 3-over 73 and finished at 4 under, one stroke ahead of Sam Burns.
Clark opened with a 64, followed by a 69 and 70, then survived a difficult final round after beginning Sunday with a six-shot advantage. His lead nearly disappeared before he recovered to win by one.
His performance was built around recovery shots and putting. He made a 24-foot birdie at No. 16 after finding trouble off the tee. That late birdie helped Clark regain control during a tense closing stretch.
Fun fact: Wyndham Clark played high school basketball at Valor Christian in Colorado, where one teammate was future NFL star Christian McCaffrey.
Clark’s game has changed since his first major
The 2026 U.S. Open was not simply a repeat of Clark’s 2023 breakthrough. He entered the summer having worked on the mental and technical parts of his game, including changes to his swing with coach Pat Coyner.
Media outlets reported that Clark’s preparation at Shinnecock became more technical after his swing grew less balanced. Caddie David Pelekoudas emphasized a simple process.
Clark credited that process with helping him manage major-championship pressure. His second U.S. Open came with a different foundation. The result showed how those adjustments carried into his performance at Shinnecock Hills.
His 2026 season has kept him near the center of golf
Clark’s U.S. Open win was part of a larger 2026 resurgence. The PGA Tour player profile lists 3 victories and 13 top-25 finishes through his first 23 starts. His other wins came at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson and BMW Championship.
The BMW victory at Bellerive came during the FedExCup Playoffs and strengthened his U.S. standing. That form translated into another Team USA appearance at Medinah. Clark entered as an automatic qualifier and was paired with Collin Morikawa.
Clark’s run of results also gave him another prominent stage alongside the Presidents Cup storyline. His major championship success and playoff victory made his place on the U.S. team part of a broader season in which he remained a regular presence near the top of major events.
Clark has already made an impact at Medinah
Clark helped Team USA take a 3-2 lead in Thursday’s opening Four-ball session. Paired with Morikawa, he defeated Ryan Fox and Adam Scott 3 and 2, helping deliver one of the U.S. team’s 3 opening-session points.
The momentum changed Friday. Fox and Min Woo Lee defeated Clark and Morikawa 1-up in Foursomes, part of a 5-match International sweep that moved the visitors ahead 7-3.
Saturday brought a partial American response. The U.S. earned 2.5 points in Four-ball before the teams split the afternoon Foursomes, leaving the Internationals ahead 10.5-7.5 entering Sunday Singles.
Trump’s Presidents Cup role adds another layer
Trump accepted the PGA Tour’s invitation to serve as honorary chairman of the 2026 Presidents Cup. He previously held the role for the 2017 Presidents Cup at Liberty National.
His appearance at Medinah drew comments from several American players. Clark said having the president attend was something he would not have imagined as a child, while Patrick Cantlay said the presence could add energy to the home crowd.
For Clark, the visit also brought back the call that followed his first major championship. The memory now sits alongside his return as a 2-time U.S. Open champion.
The old conversation now has a new setting
Clark’s recollection connects the Presidents Cup to a moment from his first major victory. Three years later, he is a 2-time U.S. Open champion and again represented the United States.
The 2023 phone call came after Clark defeated McIlroy at Los Angeles Country Club. His 2026 comments show that the exchange remained memorable because Trump discussed specific moments from the championship.
The tournament later provided a different setting. The Internationals led 10.5-7.5 after Saturday, but the U.S. rallied on Sunday to win the 2026 Presidents Cup 17-13 with Trump in attendance at Medinah.
TL;DR
- Wyndham Clark recalled that Donald Trump called after his 2023 U.S. Open victory and remembered specific shots from the tournament.
- Clark said Trump’s detailed knowledge made the conversation one of the coolest calls of his life.
- Clark won his 2nd U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills in June 2026 and has 3 PGA Tour victories this season.
- Team USA entered Sunday’s Presidents Cup singles trailing the International team 10.5-7.5, then rallied to win 17-13.
- Trump accepted the honorary chairman role for the 2026 Presidents Cup and attended Sunday’s final session at Medinah.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
