'I Think I'm Better Than Every Player' - Confident Wyndham Clark Explains McIlroy Comments
The US Open champion said he has self belief that he is better than every other player
Wyndham Clark has doubled down on bold comments, some of which he says were taken out of context.
The US Open champion caused a stir after saying he wants to prove he is better than Rory McIlroy.
The comments may well be brought back up to him later in the week at the Ryder Cup if he is matched up against McIlroy, with Clark saying he might get "a slice of humble pie."
When asked by Sky Sports, the two-time PGA Tour winner and current World No.10, explained his comments and said he thinks he's "better than every player" and has belief in his ability.
"Well I think some of the stuff was taken a little out of context," Clark explained.
"I mean by no means has my career been as good as Rory McIlroy, he's one of the best players and I said that in that interview that I have tons of respect and I think he's still one of the best players but at the same time, I mean I think I'm better than every player.
"How could you not think that? If I don't think that then what am I doing out here? So it had nothing to do with any sort of arrogance or cockiness, it was more of I'm just trying to have self belief in myself.
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"It's always funny a comment like that is somehow i'll end up playing him in singles and maybe I'll get a slice of humble pie but at the same time I really think I can beat anyone when I'm playing good and i'm sure anyone out her thinks the same thing."
🗣️ "Maybe I'll get a slice of humble pie" 🥧US Open champion Wyndham Clark responds to comments he made where he said he was better than Rory McIlroy 👀 pic.twitter.com/s330csFyRESeptember 26, 2023
Laura Davies was also asked about Clark's comments, and the golf legend said McIlroy should ask Clark how many wins he has.
"Yeah well I hadn't seen that, my only answer would be 'How many wins have you had, how many wins have I had?'
"That's how you judge yourself as a professional golfer, how many wins have you got?
"You can be a great golfer and you can earn lots of money in this game, but it's all about the wins, and at the moment Wyndham Clark, he might have loads of wins come the end of his career, I know he's younger than Rory but at the moment I really don't see that one at all."
Clark was an automatic qualifier for Zach Johnson's Ryder Cup team, with the American making his debut for Team USA this week.
He has represented USA before in the Palmer Cup, a USA vs Europe collegiate event, but never in the Walker or Presidents Cup.
The big-hitting Major champion has enjoyed the best year of his career, highlighted by his one stroke win the at the US Open, where he held off Rory McIlroy at Los Angeles Country Club.
Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!
Elliott is currently playing:
Driver: Titleist TSR4
3 wood: Titleist TSi2
Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1
Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
Ball: Srixon Z Star XV
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