Defending champion Tim Clark withdraws from Players Championship
Tim Clark withdrew from the $9.5 million Player Championship, owing to an elbow injury.
The defending champion of the event decided to call it a day after the pain became unbearable. He told this to the press after playing ten holes in the second round of the tournament, which is underway at the Tournament Player Club Sawgrass.
The South African said, “It's just been getting a little worse as they day went on. I hit a shot out of the rough on (hole No.) 9 and I could feel it getting worse. There is just no point in staying. I tried as good as I can for two days”.
Clark has tendonitis in his right elbow since three months, but despite that, he decided to play in the event, which carried a winner’s share of $1.71 million. When asked the reason behind his contention, he said that the course carried special moments that
bind him with it. He added that he knew he would not be able to defend his title, because of the elbow, but despite that, he decided to take a chance.
On further inquiry about the problem, Clark said that his problem was going away slowly, which is why, his doctor allowed him to play in the tournament, but it started coming back.
Clark quoted, “No, no, they feel like I won't do any damage, but right now it feels like it's a little worse than it was coming into the week”.
He added that he had been using several treatments that included cortisone, but that did not work for him so he quit using them.
The South African started the tournament in jeopardy. He dropped four strokes in the first round and picked only two birdies to card a score of 2-over par 74. On Friday, he teed off from the front and bogeyed two holes leaving the rest of the holes for par.
However, on the back nine, he played the opening hole and walked towards the clubhouse to quit.
Apart from him, Geoff Ogilvy and Tiger Woods also took a withdrawal from the tournament.
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