Wyndham Clark updates back injury, talks TGL and SoFi, why he can win The Masters

Windham Clark is preparing for the most important week of his life.

Clark is one of 89 players competing at Augusta National for the 88th Masters Tournament later this week. He will be seeking his second major championship in less than a year, having won the US Open last June.

Before arriving in Augusta, Clark sat down for an interview with SB Nation’s Playing Through, where he spoke at length about a wide range of topics, including his back condition, his involvement with SoFi and TGL, and the evolution of his mental game.

Of course, he also provided keen insight into his approach to being a rookie at Augusta National. It is known to be a difficult place for everyone.

Clark’s back injury is ‘just a muscle problem’

Clark was playing some great golf a few weeks ago. He finished behind world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler in consecutive weeks at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players.

He came heartbreakingly close to forcing a playoff run with the latter. 18th left Clark’s unbelievable lip out broke a bone.

Despite this, his game was in great shape competing against the best players in the world.

The next day, Clark injured his lower back en route to the Texas Children’s Houston Open. He didn’t play that well that weekend. Thankfully, his back injury doesn’t seem to affect him at the Masters.

“I don’t know if you’ve ever thrown your hips out…I was going to the gym. I didn’t have any. [wrong] Get into training. It came out of nowhere. It’s just a muscle issue,” Clark told Playing Through.

“It’s not a career. [threatening]…What happened on Monday of tournament week was the worst. But the good thing was that I was able to play. As the tournament progressed, I got better and better.

“Right now, I honestly don’t feel anything.”

That feeling was fueled by a 4-under 68 in the final round in Houston. That would certainly be a relief to Clark and all golf fans.

TGL, Wyndham’s role in SoFi

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s virtual golf league, TGL, is scheduled to debut in January 2025 and will be held at the SoFi Center on the Palm Beach State University campus.

SoFi is one of the world’s largest online banks, offering financial products such as student loan refinancing, mortgage loans, personal loans, and banking services through both mobile apps and desktop interfaces.

They are also one of our key partners in supporting the development of our ground-breaking golf league.

Clark learned of common goals and ideals through the sport of golf while playing in the Pebble Beach Pro-Am with SoFi CEO Anthony Noto. From there, a relationship developed and he ended up taking on the role of ambassador and joining his virtual golf league.

“The first two days we played together, we had a great time. Over those two days, I learned a lot about SoFi and what we value and how we do business. I learned about.

“They approached me to help represent their brand. What I learned about the company during my due diligence made me feel comfortable doing the job. We did it! I’m really excited to be a part of the brand!”

Photo credit: Tracy Wilcox/PGA TOUR, Getty Images

He joins several other superstar athletes who have partnered with SoFi: Chargers QB Justin Herbert and Celtics SF Jayson Tatum.

“I’m an Oregon Duck, Justin Herbert is a Duck, and Tatum is a great basketball player. It’s great to be a part of that group and help grow golf,” Clark said excitedly. .

In fact, SoFi is doing its part to help the game of golf grow to a new, broader, and more diverse audience.

Masters: Even rookies can win

Clark is one of 17 rookies competing in this year’s Masters.

In general, it wasn’t a great place for professional golfers. In the history of the tournament, only three first-time entrants have won. The first of his two years were his 1934 and his 1935 events.

The only other time was when Fuzzy Zoller achieved the feat in 1979.

Still, Clark isn’t afraid of being a freshman at Augusta National University. Because he’s not.

“If I play it, [Augusta National] If it were cold turkey, I would be at a huge disadvantage. But we played a total of four times before Augusta week,” Clark said.

And he made a great point that is indisputable as to why he is eligible to play this week.

“I feel like I have a high golf IQ. Usually we only see the golf course a few times before teeing up. At the U.S. Open, I only saw it once the week before. I played nine holes. played and then played 9 holes [of practice]Then I went to a tournament and won. ”

The 30-year-old rising star has ultimate confidence that he can do it again.

Clark’s cerebral changes

If you’ve followed Windham Clark’s professional career, you’ve probably noticed a big change.

Before 2023, the reigning U.S. Open champion struggled with consistency. He followed up solid tournaments with underperforming, strong rounds below average, and birdies with bogeys even on a micro level.

It’s a factor Clark talked about openly.

“That’s what I’ve struggled with the most over the past year and a half. The ability to bounce back and deal with adversity…When I hit a bogey or a double, I followed that bogey or double with more bogeys.” Clark admitted.

Last season everything changed.

“I worked with a sports psychologist and started working on my self-talk. I created a mentality where it didn’t matter what happened and I knew I could bounce back and get the birdie. That’s who we are. That’s something I worked on in particular.”

“If there’s a statistic I look at and that’s a goal…the only outcome goal I focus on is that rebound statistic.”

The proof is in the pudding.

Clark was outside the top 100 in bounce rate in 2022. He implemented new strategies detailed in Season 2 of Netflix’s Full Swing and improved significantly.

Last year, the three-time PGA Tour winner finished the season in the top 10 in bounceback percentage. He’s back on the road again this year.

To put this in context, look at his play at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Photo by Mike Ehrman/Getty Images

In the third round, he chased down Scottie Scheffler and closed out the front nine with a double bogey. The old Clark might have folded the next time and made bogey.

Instead, he re-entered the fray with birdie, birdie, and eagle.

He did the same on Sunday. After his second bogey of the day on No. 4, he had two consecutive birdies on Nos. 5 and 6. In the end he finished second behind Scheffler.

This is not a recent event.

I spent a Saturday and Sunday last June following Clark at the U.S. Open. Throughout the weekend, he was battling for the top of the leaderboard with fan favorites Rory McIlroy and Rickie Fowler. Clark easily defeated both of them to win his first major championship and showed some real stone in the closing stages to achieve it.

But what caught my eye was his way of life. He seemed supremely confident and calm.

That confidence exuded as he later exclaimed his belief that he was actually better than McIlroy.

Of course, most people would deny that idea. But to be the best, you have to believe that you are the best. do not be afraid. No mercy. Take no prisoners and win at all costs.

These were all mental traits I learned from him that weekend at the Los Angeles Country Club. If that mentality sounds familiar, it’s because it embodies the late great Kobe Bryant and has been dubbed the “Mamba Mentality.”

Clearly, Clark has a long way to go to win more majors and earn that level of fame with golf fans. But this new Wyndham-His Clark that we’ve been watching for the past 14 months embodies the same intelligent approach.

Don’t believe me, just look at the results. As I say, the proof is in the pudding.

Kendall Capps is the senior editor of SB Nation’s Playing Through.For more golf coverage, follow us @_PlayingThrough On all major social media platforms.