Sports is something that can turn a normal someone into the biggest star. With every practice session and skill enhancement, every golfer strives to achieve what they have been dreaming of for so long. The glory one gets with such success can’t ever be expressed in words.
But there are always two sides to any story. The bigger the achievement is for someone, the bigger the inner battle they fought behind the scenes. To keep oneself positive in the middle of this competitive zone is a tough task. However, for this US Ryder Cup team member, one small thought helped him become a major champion.
Wyndham Clark battled his biggest demon
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When 29-year-old golfer Wyndham Clark stepped into the Los Angeles Country Club to play the US Open, nobody would have thought they were watching a would-be major champion make his bid. The reason was very simple: the course was packed with seasoned players whose performances in previous competitions were nothing short of amazing.
But to everyone’s surprise, Clark, who was ranked 293rd at the time, defeated Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, and Ricki Fowler to win his maiden major by one shot. The course was filled with excitement when the new major champion went to claim the 123rd US Open trophy.
Wyndham Clark was on a path of self-destruction.
A change in mindset turned him into a major champion.
Read his full story: https://t.co/I47ilZg1vQ pic.twitter.com/AZfWTIQVLx
— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) September 20, 2023
But the win was overdue because, before that, Clark did not really reach his potential. “This game really magnifies winning. If you don?t win, you?re kind of neglected,” said Clark. Before the showdown, Clark had started working with sports psychologist Julie Elion, and the sessions between them really started to pay off. “If he hits a crummy shot, the next shot could be a great one. It stops the negative spiral,” said Elion.
This thought increased the trust Clark had in his vision and game. With this attitude, he went on to win one of the biggest prizes in golf. But this was more than a pivotal moment in his career, it was also a tribute to his late mother.
A great honor to Wyndham Clark’s late mother
When Clark was 19 years old, he lost his mother to breast cancer. But she was the biggest influence on his game. She introduced Clark to golf at a very young age and motivated him with her cute little notes.
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“My mom was the first one to introduce me to golf. My mom started this great tradition of writing me cute little notes in my golf bag, my gym bag, and my backpack,” Clark had earlier said.
His mom wanted to play for him, bigger than himself. Her mantra is what made Clark strive for more and more, even in adverse conditions. Definitely, with his patience and perseverance, he stood up for what his mother believed. Hopefully, in the upcoming tense week, Clark could make his mother proud once again by achieving the patriotic dream.
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What do you think about the change of mindset Clark achieved that helped him win great? Let us know in the comments.
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