Paige Spiranac is not staying silent when it comes to Wyndham Clark’s growing list of critics.
The golf influencer publicly defended the two-time major champion this week, pushing back against what she described as an unfair wave of negativity surrounding Clark’s on-course behavior and public reputation.
Paige Spiranac sparks a frenzy once again with a form-fitting outfit on the golf course
Clark, who recently captured his second US Open title at Shinnecock Hills, has faced persistent scrutiny from fans who have painted him as one of golf’s more polarizing figures.
Spiranac, however, says the narrative has gone too far.
Clark’s reputation has been shaped in part by emotional incidents over the past two seasons, including an outburst at the 2025 US Open at Oakmont after narrowly missing the cut and a club-throwing moment at the PGA Championship.
Those incidents contributed to a louder, more hostile reaction from spectators during recent tournaments.
At Shinnecock, that hostility reached a boiling point. Clark battled through jeers, uneven fan support, and an early stumble in the final round before ultimately sealing victory with a composed late surge.
Despite the atmosphere, he closed out the championship and then addressed the crowd directly.
“New York didn’t really like me,” Clark said at the trophy ceremony.
“I love you guys. But I get it. Some of it’s self deserved. I did some unfortunate things last year that I really regret, and I’ve said sorry multiple times, and I’m still sorry. So, hopefully, I can win you guys over eventually.”
Spiranac pushes back on social media criticism
Spiranac, who has known Clark since childhood, responded strongly to critics online who questioned both his character and competitive demeanor.
She argued that the reaction to his emotional style reflects a contradiction in how athletes are judged.
“The hate for Wyndham Clark doesn’t make sense to me,” she wrote on 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.
“I understand the need for a villain in sports but beating people down for every little mistake especially after they took accountability is just tiresome. I just feel that it’s been taken too far at this point.”
When one user challenged her defense, suggesting Clark’s behavior justified the backlash, Spiranac responded by emphasizing her personal history with him.
“I’ve known him since he was 12,” she said. “I’ve never seen that side of him in person. It’s just crazy people can make such a snap judgement about someone without ever meeting them.”
Clark’s ability to rebound under pressure ultimately defined his week in New York, where he overcame early struggles in the final round before pulling away for the win.
His resilience on the course stood in contrast to the public narrative surrounding him, which Spiranac believes has been shaped too heavily by isolated incidents rather than his overall character.
Fresh off his major victory, Clark also made headlines off the course during a podcast appearance on Barstool Sports’ Pardon My Take, where he revisited a controversial 2016 tweet and revealed a personal story involving NFL quarterback Baker Mayfield.
While Clark continues to polarize fans, his latest triumph, and his defender in Spiranac suggest the conversation around him is far from settled.