Windham Clark’s Unusual Training Method for the British Open

Windham Clark, the recent U.S. Open champion, is preparing for the British Open, but his approach is anything but typical.

On Monday, Clark used a wooden coat hanger as a training tool while getting ready for the upcoming tournament. He held it in his club grip, with the hook aligned parallel to the clubface, and shared his rationale for this unique method with his instructor, Pat Coyner.

“Monday is my technical day,” Clark noted. “You won’t catch me doing much of this for the rest of the week. My swing felt a bit off, especially on Sunday; I hit some poor shots.”

He went on to explain, “The coat hanger helps with adjusting the wrist angle. I’m trying to curve my left wrist a bit more to achieve a square face. I’ve been working on cupping my wrist and flattening it, and I believe this is the best way to achieve that.”

Typically, he takes around 15 to 20 swings using the hanger before setting it aside. It’s unclear if he brought the hanger from home or simply borrowed it during his stay in England.

Responses on social media to Clark’s unconventional choice have been varied. One user joked, “At least one hanger is at the Holiday Inn in Southport, UK.” Another commenter suggested, “He did this because his slow play over the weekend didn’t get enough attention.”

Regardless of how odd this training technique may seem, it could very well yield positive results, especially given Clark’s track record. Since his U.S. Open win in June, he has claimed two major titles and four overall on the PGA Tour.

Currently, his official world golf ranking is 34th, but there’s potential for him to rise to as high as 3rd by 2024.

Clark is set to begin play at the British Open on Thursday, alongside Cameron Young and Ludwig Aberg. It’s probably best to not overlook that coat hanger in his bag.