Clark targets 2013 for PGA comeback

AP

After close to a year out with an elbow injury, Tim Clark is setting his sights on a comeback in 2013 on the US PGA tour.

Johannesburg – After close to a year out with an elbow injury, Tim Clark is setting his sights on a comeback in 2013 on the US PGA tour.

Clark, 36, is hoping to regain the form that saw him lift the 2010 Players Championship and rise to 20th in the official world rankings.

“It feels like a bit of a re-launch. I was able to play this year I think 21 events on the (PGA) tour,” said Clark on Friday.

The Umkomaas professional fell to a low 240th in the rankings midway through 2012, but has since improved to number 90.

“Certainly the first few months were a bit tough as I was just getting back from literally a year off with the elbow injury,” Clark said.

“Towards the end of my last few months playing I found some form. I'm looking now to next year to kind of being back to where I was before the injury is the hope.

“It seems like every month the arm seems to get stronger and better. This is a great time of year for me to start preparing for next year.”

Clark's elbow injury flared up at the 2011 Players Championship where he was forced to withdraw in the first round.

“The rehab has been ongoing all of last year. I was going in almost every day, now it's more down to the strengthening of it. It just takes time, you can't rush into it and overdo it because you could just do more damage,” Clark said.

“It's going to be something I'll be dealing with for a while, an injury like that doesn't just get to 100 percent after a year, it takes a bit longer than that.

“Right now, I certainly don't feel it's like a hindrance. I can still go out and play and compete like I did before.”

Clark, a former SA Open Champion, withdrew from this week's SA Open due to personal reasons but has confirmed his participation in the Gary Player Invitational at Zimbali Coastal Resort from November 22.

Clark is hoping to use the time in South Africa to get his game ready in time for the first PGA tour event – The Sony Open in Hawaii starting on January 7.

“The biggest thing is going into the PGA tour season right from the start. Last year I didn't start right away, I started midway through February towards March,” he said.

“I was nowhere close to ready for tournament golf, but it felt like it was the right thing for me to do.

“Now it's like going back into a full season and start out in Hawaii and go into the season with some early form to get my rankings up and get myself into the majors and all that again.” – Sapa