"He's got an issue" – Wyndham Clark told he's "too polarising" to win PGA Tour POY award

U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark is "too polarising" to win the PGA Tour's player of the year award because the vote is a popularity contest, according to Golfweek columnist and Golf Channel contributor Eamon Lynch.

Clark has enjoyed a strong return to form in 2026, winning his second U.S. Open title with a gutsy performance at Shinnecock Hills amid a hostile New York crowd.

He also won the CJ Cup Byron Nelson in emphatic fashion, closing with an 11-under 60 at TPC Craig Ranch to win by three strokes.

His accomplishments have seen him rise back inside the top 10 of the Official World Golf Ranking, a remarkable achievement for the U.S. golfer after he ended last season in 46th.

Scottie Scheffler is the overwhelming favourite to clinch the player of the year award for the fifth year in a row, but there are a number of other candidates.

Chris Gotterup, Matthew Fitzpatrick and Cameron Young have also enjoyed considerable success alongside Clark.

"There's probably, to me, there's really only one or two real total firm favourites for this award," Lynch told Golf Channel.

"You can look at, if we just take a look at who's played really well this year, there are five people I suppose who are considered to be in the conversation as such and you see them right here.

"Matt Fitzpatrick and Chris Gotterup both have three PGA Tour victories.

"Since neither of those were majors, were not career-defining victories, I don't think either of them are really, unless they make a big statement in the next couple of weeks, going to win that award."

He added: "Wyndham Clark, obviously he won the U.S. Open for a second time, he won the [CJ Cup Byron] Nelson.

"I think he's probably got an issue because this is ultimately a popularity vote and Wyndham Clark is a polarising guy amongst them in the locker room.

"Cameron Young, to me, is the clear favourite. He won the Players' Championship, he was second in the Open, he won a signature event at Doral."

Remarkably, Lynch believes it would be "gracious" to include Scheffler in the conversation as things stand.

Although Scheffler has only won once, he has been remarkably consistent, boasting five runner-up finishes.

Statistically, Scheffler is also head and shoulders above everyone else.

"I honestly do not think that unless Scottie wins at least a couple of playoff events in the next couple of weeks, I don't think he's a player of the year candidate," said Lynch.

"Sustained statistical excellence does not win player of the year awards. Trophies win player of the year awards.

"These are players, they know how good he is. That's not actually in debate that he is the best player in golf right now. No one in their right mind is going to argue that point, but player of the year isn't necessarily for the best statistical performance in golf.

"It's for the guy who actually wins the trophies that the rest of these guys in the locker room want. And right now, to me, the leading candidate in that is Cameron Young."