![\"Wyndham](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/wyndham-clark-2026-us-open-champion.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\t\t\t\tThe US Open champion arrived at Royal Birkdale as one of the favorites for The Open, but it was an unusual practice aid on the range that caught everyone\u2019s attention.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s been a good couple of months for Wyndham Clark. After a slow start to the season which featured several missed cuts, culminating in missing the weekend at the PGA Championship in May, the 32-year-old has since clocked up six straight top-15 finishes, including victories at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson and last month\u2019s US Open.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s definitely sky high right now,\u201d the two-time major champion said when asked about his current confidence levels.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s one of the favorites for The Open at Royal Birkdale, based on that form and a strong showing at Royal Portrush last year.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously a great finish last year at Royal Portrush, tied fourth. Something to build on again this week,\u201d he said. \u201cIt was really the first time I\u2019ve played well in this championship. You know, outside a tough first round, I really would have had a chance to win.<\/p>\n
\u201cI shot 5-over and then shot, what, like 20-under in the last three rounds for a nice finish. If we could just start off good, I think I\u2019ll have a good chance.\u201d<\/p>\n
But no golfer is ever satisfied, and Clark is no different. Despite being in the form of his life, the American has been spotted doing an unusual practice drill on the range at Birkdale, making use of a humble coat hanger to work on his swing.<\/p>\n
\u201cMondays are my technical days,\u201d he explained. \u201cYou won\u2019t see me doing a bunch of that stuff the rest of the week. My swing\u2019s gotten a little off. I hit it kind of crappy, especially yesterday.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe coat hanger is for wrist angle, trying to get a little more inflection in my left wrist so I can square the face more.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s like an old, old training aid. People have been doing it forever.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t come up with it, but for myself, I was like, okay, I know that helps wrist angles.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t come up with it, but I decided to do it. My swing coach and I have been working on it. I get my wrist cupped and I\u2019ve been trying to get it flatter. I feel like that\u2019s the best way to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Clark says he\u2019ll typically use the hanger for \u201c15 to 20 [balls] just to get the feeling\u201d.<\/p>\n
Clark was seen using the hanger \u2013 albeit different models \u2013 again on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
While the hanger may help Clark\u2019s wrist angles, he says there\u2019s a bigger reason for his upturn in form this season.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know, it\u2019s\u2026 things are really good. I think people don\u2019t talk enough about what\u2019s going on off the course and equate that to what\u2019s going on on the course.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s very difficult to have off-course issues and play really good golf. You may be able to fake it a couple weeks here and there, but for a season it\u2019s difficult.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think last year I had a lot of off-course issues that were bleeding into the golf and led to some poor golfing decisions.<\/p>\n
\u201cRight now I\u2019m very pleased with my life off the course. It\u2019s very simple. I have an amazing girlfriend. I have an amazing family. Everything is set up awesome off the course, so then it\u2019s bleeding into playing really free golf on the golf course.\u201d<\/p>\n
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