CROMWELL, Conn. — Before the first round of the Travelers Championship on Thursday, Wyndham Clark hadn’t recorded a score in the 60s since the end of the RBC Heritage two months ago.
Clark has had a tough time, missing the cut at the PGA Championship and Memorial, and then shot a final-round 77 at last week’s U.S. Open to drop sharply to a tie for 56th.
But Clark has been working hard in recent months, hoping to recreate the magic that saw him set the course record at Pebble Beach earlier this year and win his second signature event of the season.
“Honestly, this is one of the hardest jobs I’ve had in a long time,” Clark said.
“First of all, I’ve been working really hard on my short game and I feel like it’s at its best. Same with putting. But unfortunately, when you do that, it throws your swing off. So I’ve been working on my swing and really working on it the last two weeks. I feel like I’ve made some real progress and I hit some good shots today.”
Clark had a strong round on Thursday, shooting a 4-under 66 after the first day to put himself in contention for the championship. The 2023 U.S. Open champion now sits four strokes behind leader Tom Kim, who shot an astounding 8-under 62.
“I played great, but just couldn’t make any putts the last nine holes,” Clark added.
“So I felt like it was a perfect round and it’s a good thing I have one blemish on this golf course.”
Clark’s only mistake came on the par-4 17th hole, where water stretches to the right and in front of the green. It’s a tricky hole and finding the fairway is essential, but Clark hit his tee shot left and had to settle for a bogey five.
Nevertheless, Clarke started well with three birdies in the first five holes, including a par-breaker on the tricky par-3 fifth hole, the best shot of the day.
“I’ve been working hard on my swing and my cut shot, so the iron shot I hit on the fifth hole was a cut five-iron and I hit it about 12 feet,” Clark said.
“That was probably my best shot.”
But Clark hit plenty of great shots throughout the day, even though his putting was a bit off on the back nine. But he was far more likely to miss a birdie putt than make par, as he has been lately. Clark wouldn’t trade his spot on the leaderboard Thursday for what he’s endured since mid-April.
Jack Mirko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation Playing Through. Follow For more golf articles, follow us on Twitter Jack Mirko In the same way.
