Wyndham Clark has been warned to brace for a significant penalty following his club-hurling outburst at the PGA Championship regardless of his subsequent apology. The moment of rage saw Clark fling his driver into an advertising hoarding after his tee shot landed in a bunker on the 16th hole during the final round at Quail Hollow on Sunday. Fortunately, the errant golf club missed hitting any spectators, but it tore a substantial hole in the signage behind the tee box.

PGA Tour rival and commentator Smylie Kaufman suggests that the PGA of America will impose a hefty fine on Clark for his actions. Kaufman, sharing insights from his personal experience during a round with Shane Lowry at the Honda Classic in 2016, spoke about the typically undisclosed structure of fines on the Pardon My Take podcast. "To get fined on the PGA Tour, there are certain levels," Kaufman recounted. "I'm not sure what the numbers are exactly for fines because they don't make the numbers available."

"But I can tell you that when Shane Lowry and I played together, him and I both got fines on the 15th hole, a par three. I hit one in the water and snapped a club over my knee, Bo Jackson-style.

"Then Shane Lowry hits one in the water right after me and proceeds to say, 'Oh, you f------ idiot,' and that's how he got fined. He didn't apologise, I did, so he got a double version of what my fine was.

"So for the PGA of America, if you look at the levels of what the fine would be, Wyndham's would be on a very high level because when you do the no-look throw and not know if anyone is behind you, especially with a bit of heat."

However, the 33-year-old Kaufman found humour in the fact that the damaged board was actually from one of Clark's own sponsors. Narrating the incident, he said: "My favourite part about it is, one of his sponsors, I think it's T-Mobile, there's a hole that goes straight through the T-Mobile sign. It's hilarious, knowing it's one of his sponsors.

"Funny for us and thankfully everybody is fine, but I think there's going to be a fine."

Clark took to social media on Monday to issue an apology, saying: "I would like to sincerely apologise for my behaviour yesterday on Hole 16. As professionals, we are expected to remain professional even when frustrated and I unfortunately let my emotions get the best of me.

"My actions were uncalled for and completely inappropriate, making it clear that I have things I need to work on. I hold myself to a high standard, trying to always play for something bigger than myself, and yesterday I fell short of those standards.

"For that I am truly sorry. I promise to better the way I handle my frustrations on the course going forward, and hope you can all forgive me in due time."

He ended up in joint 50th place, concluding another disappointing performance in a major championship. Clark hasn't finished in the top 30 since his 2023 US Open victory at the Los Angeles Country Club.

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