Wyndham Clark’s chances of securing Olympic gold have nearly vanished following a dismal first round in Paris.
Clark is one of four American golfers competing over four rounds at Le Golf National during this year’s Olympics.
However, the 2023 US Open Champion finds himself tied for 56th place out of 60 contestants after a troubling opening round of 75.
Things could have been worse for Clark, whose round commenced with a bogey, double bogey, and another bogey. Of his first three tee shots, two landed in the water, while the third narrowly avoided a similar fate.
He managed to halt the downward spiral over the last 15 holes, scoring three birdies but also conceding three additional shots.
Wyndham Clark’s hopes of winning Olympic gold are all-but over after a disastrous first round.
Two of his opening three tee shots found the water, with the other also flirting with disaster.
This positions Clark at four-over-par, tied with India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar and New Zealand’s world No. 134 Daniel Hillier.
After just one round, the 30-year-old Clark finds himself 12 strokes behind leader Hideki Matsuyama from Japan.
Luckily for the USA, both Xander Schauffele and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler performed better during Thursday’s opening round.
Schauffele, who has already clinched victories in the PGA Championship and Open Championship in 2024, sits in second place, two shots behind Matsuyama.
Scheffler is tied for sixth place, at four-under-par, alongside notable players such as Britain’s Tommy Fleetwood and Spain’s Jon Rahm.
Collin Morikawa trails by three shots, positioned at one-under-par, while Ireland’s Rory McIlroy is tied for 15th place at three-under-par.
