Conditions + Treatments
Hip Impingement
Hip Labral Tear
My name is Ford Clegg, and I grew up in Mountain Brook, Alabama. I was introduced to golf when I was about three years old by my grandfather, who played college golf at Samford University and was a longtime member of Birmingham Country Club.
He loved the game and shared that passion with me, often taking me out to play—even checking me out of school before I turned 16 to get in a round.
Growing up, I played multiple sports, including baseball, and I really enjoyed both. But golf and baseball seasons often overlapped. When I didn’t make the baseball team in 9th grade, the decision became clear—I leaned fully into golf.
I attended Mountain Brook High School, where I was part of a very competitive golf program. At first, I was on the JV team and didn’t make a consistent impact on varsity until the middle of my junior year. The talent around me pushed me to improve. Once I broke into the lineup, things took off. My junior and senior seasons, our team dominated—winning nearly every tournament we played. As a team we won the 6A state championship in my Junior and Senior years of high school. It was an exciting and formative time in my golf journey.
When it came time to choose a college, I initially hoped to attend Auburn, a school that’s a big part of my family’s tradition. But due to recruiting timelines and team needs, things didn’t work out that way. I signed with Mississippi State, where Coach Dusty Smith—formerly a Vanderbilt assistant—started recruiting me after I won the junior state championship. The school was close to home, had great facilities, elite private courses, and most importantly, felt like the right fit for me.
At Mississippi State, my game really developed. I’ve always considered myself a scrappy player—someone who leaned on short game and putting to compete, especially since I wasn’t the longest hitter. But in college, thanks to the SEC weight room and consistent work with my swing coach Vijay Trulio, I saw huge improvements in my ball striking and overall consistency.
I stayed healthy throughout college until the summer before my final year, when I started having hip pain during a qualifier in Mexico. Something didn’t feel right. I met with Dr. Benton Emblom and learned I had a 60% labral tear and hip impingement. I underwent hip surgery on September 18th.
The recovery process was slow and deliberate. I worked with physical therapist Kevin Wilk, starting with complete rest—no golf clubs for two and a half months. Then came wedges, then short irons, and eventually I worked my way up to hitting drivers. I was back playing competitively exactly six months later, on March 18th.
Since surgery, my perspective has shifted. I still want to play at the highest levels—the Masters, the Ryder Cup are big dreams—but now I truly value every opportunity to play. I’ve realized how much I love the game and how quickly it can be taken away. That mindset—staying grateful while staying competitive—is what I believe will help me reach my goals.
Currently, I’m playing in Quebec and have eight tournaments scheduled this summer. I’m continuing to chase my dream, with a deep appreciation for the people who’ve helped me along the way, especially Dr. Emblom and Kevin Wilk.
Golf Achievements:
- Made cut at PGA Tour Sanderson Farms Championship (2023)
- 3 Top-10s on G Pro Tour (2023)
- (2) NCAA D1 wins (2019, 2020)
- Ping All-Region Team (2021)
- First-Team All-SEC (2021)
- (2x) SEC Freshman Golfer of the Week (2019)
