Wyndham Clark has been one of the standout players in the world in 2024, and previously called out Rory McIlroy.
Wyndham Clark, a fellow major winner and golf rival of Rory McIlroy, is facing uncertainty regarding his participation in The Masters next month. This unfortunate situation arises from a significant injury he has sustained.
As the reigning US Open champion, Clark has revealed his ongoing struggle with a worrisome back problem just before the Houston Open at Memorial Park, scheduled for Thursday. Regrettably, this week has limited his practice to chipping and putting alone.
Clark started the season strong by clinching a victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February, a tournament that was cut short because of rain. Following that, he achieved second place finishes at both the Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players Championship.
The golfer, who rose to fame unexpectedly last year, made headlines when he seemed to challenge McIlroy after joining the prestigious group of major winners. In an interview with Golf Channel, he confidently stated that he believed he was superior to the Northern Irishman.
After climbing to fourth place in the Official World Golf Ranking, the golfer who has won three PGA Tour events is getting ready for his debut at The Masters at Augusta National in the upcoming month.
The majority of oddsmakers have set Clark’s odds at 25/1 for the initial major of the year, ranking him tenth in the betting. Nevertheless, they will be monitoring his play at the Memorial Park Golf Course in Texas this week to assess how well his body holds up throughout four rounds.
Clark expressed on Wednesday that he had injured his back, but he remains optimistic after consulting with his medical team. However, fans may have concerns about his performance as The Masters tournament approaches in a mere two weeks.
The American celebrity arrived promptly on Wednesday morning, with the intention of commencing additional preparations.
He further stated, “Initially, I was only able to practice chipping and putting. However, after undergoing extensive rehabilitation, I managed to hit balls today. In just a short span of time, I have made significant progress, and I believe I will be fully prepared for tomorrow.”
Clark’s rise to prominence on the PGA Tour has been remarkable in the past year.
Although he possessed immense potential when he initially joined the tour in 2018, it took him some time to acclimate to the competitive environment. Nevertheless, in 2023, he demonstrated his true capabilities and achieved a significant milestone by securing a remarkable four-shot victory at the Wells Fargo Championship in May.
A little more than a month afterwards, he emerged as the victor of the US Open, triumphing over McIlroy by a single stroke at Los Angeles Country Club.
Securing a commendable third place in the FedEx Cup, he secured a position in the United States Ryder Cup squad, contributing 1.5 points from three matches in a valiant but unsuccessful endeavor in Rome.
Clark has demonstrated that his success in 2024 is not just a fluke, as he has had a strong beginning to the year. Despite concerns about his injury, he is satisfied with the progress of his game.
The champion of the US Open further stated: “I have been performing well in golf, achieving two second-place finishes. If Scottie Scheffler was not in the competition, I might have secured two victories. Therefore, I am confident in my game and feel positive about my performance.”
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