Wyndham Clark opens fire on LIV Golf with brutal jibe after opening Masters round

Wyndham Clark came into the Masters as the highest ranked debutant ever – but the world No. 4 had no trouble sounding off at the Saudi-backed LIV Golf tour on Thursday

Wyndham Clark took a swipe at LIV Golf for playing only 54 holes following his opening round at the Masters on Thursday.

The world No.4, who comes into the event as the highest-ranked debutant ever, record a 1-over par round. After three birdies on the front nine in what was an encouraging start, Clark recorded two bogeys and a double bogey on the back nine.

But Clark, who stunned everyone to win the US Open last year, has every belief in himself to claw his way back to the top end of the leaderboard. He’ll have some job, though, after Bryson DeChambeau recorded a whopping 7-under to lead after Day 1.

When asked if he can get back on top despite being eight shots behind, he replied: “Yeah, we’ve got 54 holes. In LIV Golf they only play 54, so I like my chances. We’ve got a lot of golf left. As you can see, someone shot 7-under. I could do that tomorrow.”

Clark is of course pointing to the fact the Saudi-backed breakaway league only play 54 holes, such is their name, over three days instead of 72 over four like in the PGA Tour. It is particularly damning giving the fact LIV Golf star Koepka led for the first 54 holes of the Masters last year.

That was until Jon Rahm, then of the PGA Tour, came from behind to pip the American. Despite his poor back nine, Clark insisted he wasn’t nervous about the event whatsoever.

“I was pretty calm. I felt great out there,” he said. “Like I said, if I played the par-5s a little better and maybe make one or two putts here and there, we’d be having a different interview right now. I felt like I played great. My game feels good. Just got to make some putts and tighten it up on the par-5s.”

Conditions were tough at Augusta National with winds eclipsing 20mph. Clark pointed to this as a reason for missing so many putts. He said: “It’s really hard to make putts when it’s blowing 20 and gusting. You’re trying to time the putt with the gusts and then you have all this break and then you’re playing wind – it’s hard to make putts. I know some guys probably did, but it’s tough out there right now.”

He added: “It’s just a hard day. I played, I thought, close to flawless on the front, other than the three-putt on 8, and was playing solid most of the back nine other than the two par-5s. No, I don’t think it takes too much to learn. It’s just how it is. It’s really hard right now. I think it was a little easier in the morning when it wasn’t blowing as much, and now it’s very challenging.”