‘No Excuse For How I Played’: Back Injury Continues to Torment Wyndham Clark Mere Days Before Masters Debut

In just a span of three months, Wyndham Clark could have earned two victories at the PGA Tour in the 2024 season. However, as Scottie Scheffler rose above his putting hurdles and Clark missed out on a playoff at THE PLAYERS Championship because of a lip out, that statement could not come to fruition. Regardless, the world number four has carded some impressive results.

Clark has finished as the runner-up consecutively, first at the PLAYERS and then at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. The pursuit was to follow at the Memorial Golf Club in Houston, but an alarming injury seems to have stopped Clark from playing to his full potential. The injury, though not grave, can further become a huge obstacle between him and performing better at his debut at the 2024 Masters starting April 14th.

Wyndham Clark, troubled but not worried by his round-one finish

Before Wyndham Clark reached the Memorial Golf Club in Texas for the Texas Children’s Houston Open; the 30-year-old had already injured his back. Clark revealed in one presser that it happened during a gym session. The world number four awkwardly lifted a weight and his back gave out. After landing on Tuesday, Clark didn’t start swinging until Wednesday and only chipped or putt for practice.

However, after some time, he had a stable back to start round one at the Houston Open. He did start his round and was having a good run on the front nine with three birdies and only one bogey. However, he missed out on the back nine at many holes and made a par round. At the post-round interview, Clark, though struggling with his back injury, didn’t blame it for the bad performance.

He said, “It was fine. I mean, I felt like I had most of my speed. I definitely felt it all day, but no excuse for how I played.” The Denver native was quite aware of how his round played out as he summarized what was wrong. Clark elaborated, “I was playing honestly pretty good, just missed that short putt on the 13th and another one on the 14th and that kind of put me into a lull. Unfortunate to bogey the par 5 and then 18.” Though he finished at T54 after round one, Clark found that it was “all in all, a good day.”

Moving on to Friday for the next round, Clark would not want to aggravate his injury and although he does not like to attribute his ordinary performance to it, he would probably not want it to hamper it once again. Making the cut for the Texas Children’s Houston Open is definitely on Clark’s list and it looks like the 30-year-old has a plan to sail through the injury smoothly.

Wyndham Clark gives a sneak peek of his recovery plan

The sudden back issue could take a toll on Wyndham Clark and could result in his withdrawal from the Houston Open. The PGA Tour pro was initially not planning to play at the Texas event at all. However, he persevered through the pain and is competing at the Memorial Park GC. But as the next thing on the schedule remains the men’s first major of the season, Clark would not want to risk it! After round one ended, he explained, “I’m going to go do some rehab and work on it,” before things got twisted out of order.

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However, he assured that from the time he first endured the injury till the first round, things have been improving. “It’s been getting better every day so I’m hoping tomorrow I really don’t feel it,” said the 3-time PGA Tour winner before he went off the mic to continue his day. Will Clark come off stronger and improve his score in round two? Come back for part two after the Friday round.

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