Image source, Getty Images
- author, Peter Scribner
- role, BBC Sports Senior Journalist
Wyndham Clark, who is defending his U.S. Open title at Pinehurst this week, said golfers need to do a better job of checking in on each other’s well-being, given that “80 percent of the players are leaving upset and not happy with their round.”
Mental health has become a key focus since 30-year-old Grayson Murray retired from a PGA Tour match last month and took his own life the next day.
“This is a sad and tragic event,” Clarke said of Murray, who was known to have had problems with alcoholism, anxiety and depression.
“The unfortunate thing about our job is that it’s very lonely and very difficult.
“I’ve been in so many depressed situations where I have negative thoughts that I never want to have.”
While acknowledging there are “endless resources” to help golfers on tour, Clark would like to see players and caddies ask each other, “How are you doing?” rather than simply, “How are you doing?”
“Maybe it’s up to the players to take the initiative to make it happen,” the world number four added.
Clark, who won his first major in 2023 by beating Rory McIlroy by one stroke in Los Angeles, is determined not to put too much pressure on himself this week.
The 30-year-old American won at Pebble Beach in February and was runner-up at the Arnold Palmer Invitational Championship and The Players Championship in March.
But his form has declined since then, missing the cut in three of his last five tournaments, including both the Masters and PGA Championship.
“I haven’t been playing my best golf. It’s been a tough few weeks,” he said. “It’s tough and it’s frustrating.”
“I’m just trying to build momentum. That may sound like low expectations, but I want to build momentum for the rest of the season.”
Clark said “managing my own expectations” was key to his mental health.
“Too often players, myself included, focus too much on scores and results. The sport of golf is very frustrating and very difficult,” he added.
“I missed the cut, I threw my clubs in the car and drove off. [angry].
“On TV the players look great and the matches look great, but in reality, after many rounds I think 80 percent of the contestants walk out angry.”
“That’s the nature of our sport. That’s why it’s such a mental sport. We have players at all different levels of skill in this sport, and the difference between the players who are really successful and enjoy the sport and have long careers is that they’re just as mentally gifted as anyone else.”
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