Wyndham Clark has fast become one of the best golfers on the PGA Tour, but his hopes of adding a second major championship to his collection are in doubt due to a back injury.
Wyndham Clark, who has showcased exceptional form in the world of golf in 2024, now faces uncertainty regarding his aspirations of donning the prestigious green jacket at The Masters next month.
The current titleholder of the US Open has disclosed that he is grappling with a back injury prior to the commencement of the Houston Open at Memorial Park on Thursday. This setback has limited the 30-year-old golfer to solely focusing on his chipping and putting during the earlier part of the week.
Clark kicked off the season impressively by clinching a win at the rain-affected AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February. Following this, he secured consecutive second-place finishes at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players. Currently ranked fourth in the Official World Golf Ranking, the three-time PGA Tour champion is gearing up for his first appearance at the Masters in Augusta National next month, trailing behind Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, and Jon Rahm.
Clark, who is currently ranked 10th in the betting for the first major of the year, has odds of 25/1 according to most bookmakers. However, the attention of many will be focused on Memorial Park Golf Course in Texas this week, as they closely monitor the performance of this rising star of the 2023 Ryder Cup, particularly his physical condition throughout the four rounds.
Despite the back issue, Clark remains optimistic and has taken the proactive step of bringing in his medical team to address the matter. Nevertheless, fans may have concerns about whether he will be able to perform at his best during The Masters, which is set to begin in just two weeks.
Clark mentioned on Wednesday that he had injured his back. He explained that he was in a lot of pain the day before, but thanks to the excellent support from his team, he was able to recover enough to swing and hit.
He added that he arrived early yesterday morning and could only manage to chip and putt. After undergoing a series of rehabilitation exercises, he was able to hit balls today. He expressed his satisfaction with the rapid improvement in his condition and believed he would be prepared for the upcoming event.
Clark has quickly emerged as one of the top performers on the PGA Tour in the last year. Despite being a highly respected player when he first joined the tour in 2018, it took him some time to adjust to the competition. Nevertheless, he managed to excel in 2023 and achieved a significant milestone by winning the Wells Fargo Championship in May with a remarkable four-shot lead.
Just over a month later, he emerged as the champion of the US Open, narrowly defeating Rory McIlroy by a single shot at Los Angeles Country Club. He secured a third-place finish in the FedEx Cup and secured a spot on the United States Ryder Cup team, contributing 1.5 points from three matches in a losing effort in Rome.
Clark has demonstrated his success was not a mere stroke of luck with a solid beginning to 2024. Despite concerns about injury, he is content with the progress of his game. “I have been performing well in golf, securing two second-place finishes. If Scottie Scheffler was not in the competition, I could have potentially won twice. Therefore, I have been playing exceptionally well and I am confident in my game.”
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