US Open leader Clark hopes for a better crowd during final round

[p]A confluence of headline-grabbing sports events ‌this week has taken some of the spotlight from Southampton, ‌a ritzy beach town east of New York City.[/p][p]Massive ‌crowds gathered in downtown Manhattan to celebrate the Knicks' NBA title at a ticker-tape parade on Thursday, while on Friday, World ‌Cup co-hosts the United States were playing ⁠against Australia over in Seattle.[/p][p]U.S. Open organisers ‌even put the U.S. match against the Socceroos on one ​of two big screens in the media centre to let reporters keep one eye on the beautiful ​game.[/p][p][b]"It was kind of unfortunate that we're finishing in the dark and people weren't really out there because there ⁠were some obviously ​key, big moments, and it did kind of get a little flat,"[/b] said [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/clark-wyndham/x4NXN7qb/"]Clark[/a], who carded an even-par 70 on Saturday and was seven under through 54 holes.[/p][embed guid="0dd2670a-625f-476e-ab8a-48705acad83f" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sce1XnwDil4&pp=ygUNV3luZGhhbSBDbGFyaw%3D%3D" social-type="youtube" /][p][b]"Hopefully tomorrow ‌there's a bunch of fans and stuff, but for me, it's still really important, and I still felt the moment. It's just maybe unfortunate that there weren't all the people there."[/b][/p][p]The 2023 champion conceded this week that his reputation had taken a hit among fans after a locker room incident at the event last year.[/p][p]A later tee time on Saturday did not help matters ‌much, as he squinted into the dying light during the ​final stages of the third round.[/p][p][b]"Sometimes it made ‌it tough to stay really focused because it seemed like everyone was leaving, and it was like the tournament was over, and I had to keep myself really focused and in the present,"[/b] said Clark.[/p][p][b]"Hopefully, ⁠there are people there tomorrow ⁠, and it's a great ‌atmosphere."[/b][/p][embed guid="f6cc8de7-79e2-4d21-9004-1db9b2db72fc" url="https://x.com/usopengolf/status/2068500539730477447?s=20" social-type="twitter" /]