DANNY BUOYED
First big test since September shoulder op leaves former champ feeling smiles better
DANNY WILLETT started his first round after shoulder surgery fearing he would look a “fool” at the Masters – and ended up near the top of the leaderboard.
The 2016 champion, who went under the knife in September, defied doctors’ orders to make his return here.
And he found the perfect tonic by shooting an “unexpected” 68.
The world No.260 trailed clubhouse leader Bryson Dechambeau (right) by three shots after the LIV Golf star carded a sensational 65.
Overnight rain delayed the start by two-and-a-half hours, but the forecasted thunderstorms skirted around Augusta National. Gusting 20mph winds were the biggest obstacle with the greens softened.
Yorkshire’s Willett showed the grit which saw him get back to action a year ahead of schedule after six weeks in a cast before an extensive rehab programme. The former world No.9 only decided he would play after passing a 27-hole fitness test on Sunday. He started by rolling in a 19-foot birdie putt on the first, and surprised himself by putting together a round including seven birdies. He even shared the lead at the turn before Dechambeau’s late charge.
“It’s unexpected, isn’t it?” he beamed. “I think I might take the next six months off ! No, it’s completely unexpected.
“Sometimes that happens, whatever. You make a couple of birdies and your mind starts thinking, all right, I can do it.
“It was nice to keep chilled out. It’s not like it’s in pain hitting it, it’s more the shots you need to hit.
“It was more the reps and me being a bit nervous, to be honest, about whether or not I’d just come here and mess around and hit the first tree in front of me every time because I’ve not practised enough. It was more that actually, the nerves and the anxiety of are you in a place where you’re not going to make a fool of yourself. It’s actually turned out all right.
“I’ve not been able to hit every single shot.
“Tiger talked about it when he came back, about hitting a golf ball at least 1,000 times, whether that be putting, chipping, whatever. It’s just the ability to hit certain shots around here – it’s a very complicated golf course if you get yourself out of position.
“Because it was playing tough, it probably really made us concentrate that little bit more. I might go out tomorrow and shoot 80, I don’t know. But it’s just the fact that we’re here and painfree, it’s just a nice way to be.”
Big-hitting Dechambeau once boasted Augusta National was a par 67 to him because of his length, but he has never finished higher than his tied 21st place as an amateur.
He has missed the cut the last two years.
But the 2020 US Open champion had a long birdie putt to equal the lowest ever opening round here before signing for his seven-under 65.
Rory Mcilroy was in contention on two under par with two to play, while Shane Lowry was one over after his first nine holes.