PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — The three times Wyndham Clark has won, it meant a little more and moved the needle.

With Brooks Koepka gone to LIV Golf, Clark has become the PGA Tour’s big-game hunter.

A victory at The Players Championship — where he leads by 4 strokes after 36 holes — would fit the profile of the reigning U.S. Open champion, who also has won at demanding Quail Hollow and historic Pebble Beach.

Clark cannot explain why he’s at his best during big events. But he’s certain he’d like to show up more often.

“I just really don’t know what it is,” he said. “I would like to play great every week.”

No golfer has been nearly as good thus far at TPC Sawgrass.

Clark carded his second straight 7-under 65, highlighted by a 30 on his second nine holes Friday, to reach 14-under-par 130 total.

Xander Schauffele, an 18-hole co-leader with Clark, and Canada’s Nick Taylor are 10-under. Matthew Fitzpatrick is next, five strokes back along with Maverick McNealy. Still in the mix, of course, is world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler at 8-under with three other players.

Coming off a 5-shot win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and within striking distance entering the weekend, Scheffler is golf’s gold standard and Clark’s prototype.

“I have so much respect for Scottie,” he said. “The best thing about Scottie is his consistency. Scottie’s always in contention. He’s pushed me to be better and it’s fun to watch him, and so I’m really trying to catch him.”

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