Golf influencer Paige Spiranac admitted Sunday that she had a personal connection to Wyndham Clark, who held off Rory McIlroy to win the 2023 U.S. Open at the Los Angeles Country Club.
Clark finished 10-under par for the tournament, his second PGA Tour win of the year, defeating McIlroy by just one stroke.
Afterward, Spiranac revealed that she and Clark played together in junior golf in Colorado. She also said that she always knew he was destined to be a winner.
“Wyndham Clark and I grew up playing junior golf together in Colorado,” Spiranac wrote. “Everyone would always say he had something special and we all knew he’d make it. Now he’s a major winner! Very cool moment.”
Wyndham Clark and I grew up playing junior golf together in Colorado. Everyone would always say he had something special and we all knew he’d make it. Now he’s a major winner! Very cool moment
— Paige Spiranac (@PaigeSpiranac) June 19, 2023
Clark was already well-known in the world of Colorado golf. He won the state golf championship twice. Born in Denver, he went to school with San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey.
It’s quite the turnaround from his previous U.S. Open appearances. Clark previously missed the cut in the prior two tournaments. His best finish in the PGA Championship was 75th in 2021 and his best Open Championship finish was 76th last year.
“I feel like I belong on this stage,” Clark said after the win. “Even two, three years ago when people didn’t know who I was, I felt like I could still play and compete against the best players in the world.”
