Clark, who held off Rory McIlroy in Los Angeles to win his first major by one shot in 2023, is determined to not put too much pressure on himself this week.
The 30-year-old American won at Pebble Beach in February and finished runner-up at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and Players Championship in March.
But since then his form has tailed off, with three missed cuts in his past five events, including at both majors – the Masters and US PGA Championship.
“I haven’t been playing my best golf. It’s been kind of a tough stretch these past few weeks,” he said. “It’s challenging, frustrating.
“I’m just trying to gain some momentum. I know that maybe sounds like low expectations but I’d love to just gain some momentum for the rest of the season.”
Clark said “working on his expectations” are key to his own mental wellbeing.
“Too often players, including myself, get tied up so much in score and outcome, and the game of golf is so frustrating and so hard,” he added.
“There are those really lonely times when you miss the cut, you throw your clubs in the car, you drive off, and you’re [angry].
“On TV they typically show the guys playing great, the game seems awesome. In reality I’d say 80% of the field storms off after a lot of the rounds.
“That’s just the nature of our game. That’s why it is such a mental game. I’ve learned that there are so many different skill levels out here, and the difference between the guys that really make it and enjoy the game have a long career, they’re just better mentally than everyone.”
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