Defending champion Tim Clark admits he should have won more tournaments. but despite a numerous near-misses, has no regrets.

The 39-year-old South African has finished runner-up at least once every year since 2005 – 13 occasions in total – but for only the second time in his career he is trying to defend his title this week.

“If I look at what I’ve done through my career I should have no question won more but I think we all feel that way – but I really feel that way,” he told a press conference.

“I’ve had, 12, 13, or whatever second places and I guess I’ve had a second place my last 11 seasons in a row.

“It shows I’ve played consistently good golf over the last 11 seasons but to only win twice . . . some of them I gave away, some of them guys played great to beat me. I don’t have too many regrets on a lot of the tournaments.

“There were times I felt I really played well and just got beaten and you can live with that. The only ones that sting are the ones you felt like you might have given it away. That’s probably really only happened a couple of times.”

Clark won the Canadian Open in Montreal and the event has moved to Oakville, Ontario, but despite a recent elbow injury he is feeling confident.

“I hurt it pretty bad during the last round and subsequently had to have surgery in February,” he added.

“This is my third tournament back. It feels better than I thought it would at this point, to be honest, and my game has come back fairly quickly.

“While I haven’t played much golf this year, I’m feeling pretty good about this week.”

World number number 28 Brandt Snedeker will miss the event with the hip injury which forced him to pull out of the Open, while struggling Canadian Mike Weir declared he is taking indefinite leave from game.