Wyndham Clark was one of the players who went into the FedEx St. Jude Championship in a precarious position, with the 2023 US Open champion 49th in the standings heading to TPC Southwind.
It has been a frustrating season for Wyndham Clark. His best result in the first three majors of the year was tied for 46th at The Masters. There were calls for Clark to be suspended when his frustration at the US Open led to him damaging the lockers at Oakmont.
But a recent upturn in form appeared set to provide Clark with the chance to end his year on a high.
The 31-year-old was in the final group on Sunday at the Genesis Scottish Open before finishing tied for fourth at The Open Championship. He then ended up tied for 12th at the 3M Open.
Wyndham Clark must be kicking himself over recent decision as FedEx Cup playoff campaign ends
Those results moved Clark into the top 50 in the FedEx Cup – and seemed to hint that he was ready to make a charge to secure a captain’s pick for the Ryder Cup.
However, it seems that Clark’s hopes of featuring at Bethpage are hanging by a thread. After shooting a 75 on Sunday at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, Clark has fallen out of the top 50 and will play no further part in the playoffs.
It arguably makes one decision Clark recently made look all the more bizarre.
Clark confirmed during the 3M Open that he had decided to play at the Wyndham Championship. However, as reported by Golf Magic, he withdrew from the event less than 24 hours later without giving a reason.
Perhaps Clark decided that he could afford to take a rest, particularly as he would have hoped to play in all three playoff events.
However, Clark was only just above the cutline. There was always a very realistic chance that a poor week in Memphis would see him fall out of the top 50 and leave a real question mark hanging over how much he will play in the signature events on the PGA Tour next year.
Wyndham Clark now has a mountain to climb to make the Ryder Cup team for Bethpage
Had he played well at the Wyndham Championship, he could afford a weaker week in the first playoff event. Cameron Young jumped more than 20 spots with his win in Sedgefield.
Clark will probably still be a regular fixture in the signature events next year. But when it comes to the Ryder Cup, those hopes have surely now been dashed. Keegan Bradley would have to make a phenomenal argument to justify picking him now.
With that, Clark will surely be kicking himself if he decided that he would be better off resting up rather than playing in the final event of the regular season, particularly as he was clearly prepared to tee it up until late in the day.
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