‘A Trickle Effect’: Wyndham Clark Opens Up On Injury Side-Effects That Lowkey Ruined His Season Amid Olympics Backlash

What does a bad year look like? We’re sure Wyndham Clark will answer that better than anybody right now. With only one win under his belt this year so far, the golfer is not in a good space. After facing serious heat post his slow Olympic performance, Clark recently discussed the reason for a below-average 2024 season. 

In a podcast with Smylie Kaufman at The Smylie Show, the 3-time PGA winner talked about the injuries slowing him down. When asked about the impact of his injury on his game in the second half of the year, the golfer was willing to open up about his struggles. According to the golfer, he has been battling a nagging injury since Augusta, and it’s taken a toll on his game. “So this first time, I’ve really had an injury that happened right before Augusta, and since then, I’ve had some lower back stiffness”, he said in the podcast. 

The injury occurred during a workout session earlier this year. And the lower back stiffness has robbed the golfer of his usual power, dropping his ball speed from a consistent 185-188 to a mere 180. It is evident in his performance at the Paris Olympics, where he achieved an outstanding average score of 11 under par. Clark rested right under the top 10 at T11. The fans were already unhappy with Clark being on Team USA, and his poor performance worked like fuel in the fire. 

Clark explained that some days were better than others, but the stiffness always lurked. It made it difficult for him to control his shots. “And so then we’re going out there, and it’s hard to control how far you’re hitting it.” The golfer describes the healing process as a constant battle, but he is getting better day by day.

“It’s funny how it all kind of starts with the injury, and then it’s just a trickle effect.” So, let’s go back to where it all started. 

Wyndham Clark’s injury near the 2024 Houston Classic

A sudden and painful back injury interrupted Wyndham Clark’s winning streak after the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am during a morning workout. The former U.S. Open champion was left struggling to move, but he refused to give up, “I was in pretty bad shape yesterday, but fortunately I have a great team that has gotten me to be able to swing and hit”, said the golfer per Golf Digest. With the help of his team, he began a rapid rehabilitation program. 

The charity game fueled Clark’s motivation to recover quickly with children battling heart transplants and cancer on Wednesday. “So just in a short time I’ve improved a ton and I think I’ll be ready for tomorrow.”

Despite the lingering back injury, Clark made a decent score of 4 under par and rested at T31. Now, with St. Jude Championship on the line, do you think Clark will redeem himself? Let us know in the comment section below!