Wyndham Clark called out golf fans at Medinah No. 3 for the lack of atmosphere on the first day of the 2026 Presidents Cup after the U.S. had taken a 3-2 lead over the Internationals. 

Clark suggested that the “momentum could have been better” with greater vibes around the course on Thursday. 

“It was kind of dead out there,” Clark told reporters. “I felt like the momentum could have been better, to be honest, because we weren’t really feeling the fans, I think, as much as normal.

“There was a few shots, I mean, Collin [Morikawa] hit a 5-wood on, what was it, 11 to like 10 feet, and we didn’t even know if it was on the green because no one clapped. It was a little surprising. We’d make some big putts, I’m saying this more as a challenge that hopefully tomorrow and the weekend the fans are out there really rooting us on, and regardless of what happens, we have the momentum.”

Video from the first tee showed a raucous crowd at the golf course just outside of Chicago, particularly during the national anthem, which included a military flyover. 

However, Golf Digest reported that the stands had emptied out before the last two matches went out and the crowd “did lack the environment one expects from these events.” 

Wyndham Clark of the U.S. Team celebrates after a putt on hole eight during the first round of the Presidents Cup in Medinah, Illinois on September 24, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

U.S. captain Brandt Snedeker also expressed some disappointment about the spectator reaction, but he expressed faith that the crowds will show up. 

“It was a weird day. I really felt like the fans were out there and they were there, but the 1st tee was loud, and then it just kind of dissipated as the day went on. I don’t know why,” Snedeker said. “I think part of it was because the golf course was set up pretty difficult. There was some really tough pins out there, so it was really hard to get a lot of birdies going. You’ve got guys going crazy, I guess. And there’s some tough viewing out there on some of the holes where people really couldn’t see what was going on.

Fans cheer prior to the start of the first round four-ball match at the Presidents Cup golf tournament between the USA and International teams at Medinah Country Club on Sept. 24, 2026, in Medinah, Ill. AP Photo/Matt Slocum

“I know what Chicago is built of. I know what kind of fans we’ve got here. They’ll come out tomorrow. We’ve just got to go out and play good golf.”

The comments are not the first time American golfers have asked fans to show up for a team golf event. 

Last year, Morikawa challenged golf fans on Long Island to bring the chaos during the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black.