Wyndham Clark loses huge chunk of record U.S. Open | Golf News

Wyndham Clark claimed the joint-largest prize in major championship golf with his U.S. Open victory on Sunday, yet barely more than half of his windfall will make it into his bank account after a staggering tax invoice.

Clark entered the ultimate spherical boasting a six-shot benefit, but was pressured to overcome nerves, a hostile Shinnecock Hills crowd, and a decided problem from Sam Burns to secure his second U.S. Open title. The Colorado native carded a three-over-par 73, but it proved enough to edge out Burns by a single stroke.

Clark could not have been a crowd favourite, but he proved a deserving champion. Multiple followers have been eliminated by law enforcement for heckling that went too far, and the new world No. 9 made no secret of his frustration over the treatment he endured.

The 32-year-old pocketed a large $4.5 million in prize money for his victory, matching the biggest sum ever awarded at a major championship. However, a substantial portion of his earnings will likely be heading straight to the tax authorities.

The IRS is entitled to roughly $1.62M, based on the 37 p.c federal tax charge utilized to high earners.

Clark will also owe around $400,000 in New York state tax, along with an extra $105,000 in Medicare and payroll taxes, ensuing in a whole tax invoice exceeding $2.1M — amounting to more than 48 p.c of his whole winnings.

Not that the Colorado native will lose a lot sleep over it. He holds the excellence of being a two-time U.S. Open champion, and has surged back into the world’s top 10 as a troublesome 2025 season fades additional into the space.

While some followers have yet to forgive him for his outrageous conduct at this match a yr in the past — smashing a locker at Oakmont Country Club in a match of rage after lacking the cut — Sunday’s triumph supplied him a measure of redemption.

Clark, who claimed the 2023 U.S. Open title at Los Angeles Country Club, said: “Man, the first one was amazing, and this one seems even better. I think especially after such a sour taste last year in this championship, to have some redemption and win this again, it’s almost surreal.”

He went on to say: “I sure hope it closes the door on [the Oakmont incident]. I figured in my mind that this would maybe be the last time just because it’s one year removed. I’ll probably always get them, but I hope I don’t become the heel of the PGA. I guess if I am, any press is good press, right?”.

Sunday’s victory, which helped lay some of his self-inflicted demons to relaxation, will ship far higher satisfaction than any financial reward ever may.

“After what happened at Oakmont, it was obviously the lowest point,” he said. “People probably didn’t see what happened after, but you know, it was a really tough two, three days for me. I was in a dark place. Didn’t really go outside much. It was a really negative, dark place.

“At that second, I just felt a lot of my profession, world rating, fame, every part just dwindling. That’s a horrible feeling. I’d say in that second, I undoubtedly did not suppose I’d be right here this yr doing this, but with that being said, I did a lot of work in the offseason on my golf swing, on the issues I needed to do. I began hitting it better and began seeing the outcomes, then yeah, I began gaining my confidence.

“Coming into this, I really did have the feeling I could win, because I played amazing at Memorial. I played OK golf in Canada and still had a chance to win. I said, ‘If I bring my A-game, I can definitely win this thing.'”.