'Umkomaster' hopes to fly in to Erinvale despite injury worry
January 08, 2004 Edition -1
Grant Winter
Tim Clark hopes to honour a commitment to play in next week's South African Airways Open at Erinvale in spite of
having undergone surgery to his troublesome right wrist.
The 28 year old from Umkomaas has had a proud record in the SAA Open, winning at Durban Country Club in 2002 and then finishing runner-up, after a sudden-death playoff with Trevor Immelman, at Erinvale in the 2003 edition of the country's premier tour event.
That victory two years ago was an important milestone in the career of the man they call "Umkomaster". After having to pre-qualify just to get into the tournament, he went on to shoot 66, 70, 68 and 65 for a 269 aggregate - the second lowest score in SA Open history - to beat a strong international field.
Then, last year at Erinvale, he tied with Immelman on 274 only for Immelman to nearly hole his approach at the par-four 18th, the first extra hole, to ensure a tap-in birdie and victory.
Clark's wrist injury saw him limited to only three events on the 2001 US Tour, and it has bothered him for the last couple of years. Fortunately he is man who plays from the heart, and not from a sore wrist, and he rode the pain to notch up two big seasons on tour - his most recent success being teamed up with Ernie Els to score two betterball wins in the Presidents Cup, one against Tiger Woods and Charles Howell.
A Sunshine Tour spokesperson says Clark is not in the country yet, but has indicated that his wrist is progressing well and that he is hoping it will be okay for Erinvale.
One of the contestants is Maccauvlei's 19-year-old Charl Schwartzel, whose fine play as a rookie on the European Tour last year earned him an unofficial tag as the world's best teenage golfer.
But the sweet-swinging youngster is ignoring the comments as best he can. "When people have such high expectations, you do feel the pressure. So I don't want any of that to go to my head. All I need to do is go out there and play. If I get that right I know I have the talent and capabilities to do well."
"Last year this time I wasn't sure when I would be able to compete again," Woods said. "This year my knee is sound and I am ready to go."
The 28 year old begins the new campaign in the $5,3-million Mercedes Championship in Hawaii starting today after missing the 2003 event because of knee surgery. He goes head-to-head at Kapalua with defending champion Ernie Els, who cruised to an eight-stroke win last year, and 28 other champions from the 2003 US Tour.
