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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.<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
Clark said “working on his expectations” are key to his own mental wellbeing.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“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].<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
Follow live text coverage of all four rounds of the US Open from 12:30 BST on Thursday, with radio commentary of the final two rounds on Saturday and Sunday on the BBC Sport website and app and BBC Sounds. <\/i>Full details here.<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n