PONTE VEDRA BEACH, May 11 (Reuters) - South African Tim Clark said on Wednesday he is not going to let a nagging elbow injury get in the way of defending his Players Championship title this week at the TPC Sawgrass.
Clark has not played since battling through an elbow injury at last month's Masters but said he is feeling upbeat heading into Thursday's opening round at the TPC Sawgrass given some improvement in his condition in recent weeks.
"I'm still probably 70-80 percent and there's still a little bit of a niggle in the elbow. I do feel like I am going to be able to play though and get through it," Clark told reporters.
"I was pretty sore at Augusta and really after that I didn't touch a club again until a couple of days ago. I really had to take a step back and give it some rest."
Last year, Clark ended eight frustrating years of close calls on the PGA Tour by charging past overnight leader Lee Westwood to win his maiden title at the Players Championship.
An electrifying run of five birdies in six holes around the turn was decisive for Clark, who had finished runner-up eight times in 205 previous starts on the U.S. circuit.
But this year has been a frustrating one on the course for the 35-year-old from Durban after he picked up the elbow tendon problem at the season opener in Hawaii.
"It is really frustrating not to be able to get out to tournaments and play," said Clark. "I don't mind not practicing when I am at home, that's quite fine but watching television, seeing guys win and playing tournaments and knowing that I am just not physically able to go out there and do that - that's frustrating."
Clark has not played since battling through an elbow injury at last month's Masters but said he is feeling upbeat heading into Thursday's opening round at the TPC Sawgrass given some improvement in his condition in recent weeks.
"I'm still probably 70-80 percent and there's still a little bit of a niggle in the elbow. I do feel like I am going to be able to play though and get through it," Clark told reporters.
"I was pretty sore at Augusta and really after that I didn't touch a club again until a couple of days ago. I really had to take a step back and give it some rest."
Last year, Clark ended eight frustrating years of close calls on the PGA Tour by charging past overnight leader Lee Westwood to win his maiden title at the Players Championship.
An electrifying run of five birdies in six holes around the turn was decisive for Clark, who had finished runner-up eight times in 205 previous starts on the U.S. circuit.
But this year has been a frustrating one on the course for the 35-year-old from Durban after he picked up the elbow tendon problem at the season opener in Hawaii.
"It is really frustrating not to be able to get out to tournaments and play," said Clark. "I don't mind not practicing when I am at home, that's quite fine but watching television, seeing guys win and playing tournaments and knowing that I am just not physically able to go out there and do that - that's frustrating."
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