US Open shows why golf is on guard against bad behaviour

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. This video can not be played Figure caption, Clark beats Burns on closing holes of dramatic US Open By Iain Carter Golf correspondent Published 12 minutes ago US Opens drive players to distraction because the intention is always to test temperament as much as technique. The latest championship, won by Wyndham Clark at Shinnecock Hills on Sunday, did exactly that. But this edition will be remembered for its less savoury side. It was a tournament that reflected our golfing times, where deteriorating standards of behaviour inside and outside the ropes took precedence. The course was brilliantly set up to traditional US Open standards. It demanded the full gamut of shots, punishing any that fell short of perfection, and delivered a thrilling final day as Clark limped home. The champion showed steely sporting character to win his second title, after also triumphing in 2023, but he attracted more jeers than cheers while holding off the plucky Sam Burns and world number one Scottie Scheffler. Clark blocks out New York jeers to win US Open title Published 13 hours ago Shinnecock Hills 'won the battle over me' - McIlroy Published 15 hours ago Niemann first to get two-shot penalty for throwing club Published 2 days ago One of the reasons for Clark's unpopularity was his furious demolishing of two ancient locker doors in the Oakmont clubhouse after missing the cut at last year's US Open. It was an act of uncontrolled vandalism that speaks to the sense of entitlement that many perceive has spread through the upper echelons of the men's game. Players have never had it so good. They are richer and more pampered than ever before, yet for all that wealth and influence they have never seemed more unattractively angry. Every broadcast seems populated with commentators being forced to say sorry for players' bad language and the fact that it is the broadcaster rather than the golfer doing the apologising sums up a lack of accountability. This worsening malaise has prompted the majors to introduce its new code of conduct which resulted last week in Joaquin Niemann becoming the first player to receive a two-stroke penalty for throwing his club, while running up a nine on the par-four sixth in his first round. That nine became an 11. The Chilean fought back brilliantly to make the cut and ultimately finish tied for seventh. He would have been third with a guaranteed Masters invitation without the penalty. The United States Golf Association (USGA) hit him where it hurts most by adversely affecting his scorecard rather than a bulging bank balance with a meaningless fine. Many will feel such firm action, in general terms, is long overdue. "I really like what's happening here," former European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley told viewers of the Golf Channel. "We're in a game where we are seeing so much in favour of the players; so much entitlement, so much money going to the players, so much control. "The po