Why Ryder Cup Rookie Wyndham Clark Thinks the Europeans Could Be ‘Leaking Oil’ Come Sunday

Clark might be a first-timer at the Ryder Cup, but he wasn’t afraid to throw out a subtle jab at the European team on Wednesday.

Wyndham Clark might be a Ryder Cup rookie, but he started to sound like a true veteran on Wednesday when making a subtle dig at the Europeans in his pre-tournament press conference. 

At Marco Simone, the reigning U.S. Open champion was asked about his preparation for an event like the Ryder Cup—and the differing approaches between the Americans and the Europeans—and his answer delivered. 

Clark explained that after the FedEx Cup playoffs he took “two weeks” completely off from golf to get his mind “right and refreshed.” Then, rather than playing in the PGA Tour’s first fall event, Clark set up money matches at his home club in Scottsdale, Ariz., with his U.S. teammate Max Homa.

Clark is one of four Ryder Cup rookies on the U.S. squad :: David Davies/PA Images via Getty Images

“Last week played a lot of money games at Whisper Rock with a lot of good players, and then Max and I played best ball and alternate shot multiple days against other good players,” he said. 

While Clark was largely grinding on his own, many of the European team members were teeing it up in DP World Tour events, including the BMW PGA Championship two weeks ago. Of the 12 players on the European squad, nine finished in the top 20 at Wentworth.

Despite their strong showing, Clark made sure to remind the media of Europeans’ busy pre-Ryder Cup schedule in his response.

“I think the European team, it's great that they got to play, but I also think they might be maybe a little mentally fatigued as this week goes on,” Clark said. 

He even went as far as saying that the opposing squad might be at a disadvantage come Sunday’s singles matches.   

“This is obviously a very intense environment and mentally challenging, and then also you put in a pretty physically demanding golf course being so hilly and up and down that maybe come Sunday they might be leaking oil and we'll be fresh,” he said. 

Only time will tell if Clark’s prediction is correct.