‘I can’t see light at end of tunnel’
DANNY Willett admitted he is “miles off” the form that won him a Green Jacket last year after finishing among the Open also-rans.
The 2016 Masters champion trailed in at nine over par after a final round of 71 compiled in the company of Birkdale assistant pro Nick Jennings, who acted as his marker. He is struggling with back problems, technique and confidence.
“It feels a long way away,” said Willett. “The golf shots are a long way away, the mental side is a long way away and scoring is a long way away. Golfing-wise it is obviously not quite there.
“When the swing is a bit dodgy, the back starts to hurt and you make compensations. It is still painful. But again a lot of that is swing bias.
“It is a bit of a vicious circle. If you are not swinging great, you get the week.
“You obviously know what you can do and what you can achieve when you are fully fit and swinging well. When you are not fully fit and swinging well, you can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel.
“It’s just frustrating. Every time you feel you are getting somewhere with it, you take another two steps back. Before you know it you feel you are 10 steps further back than you were a few weeks before.”
Willett was first out at 7.55am yesterday and had left the course before Jordan Spieth and Matt Kuchar even arrived.
“There’s nothing quite like teeing off at 7.55 on the Sunday of an Open. It really gets your blood flowing,” said Willett, sarcastically. “I’m still the same person as when I won the run have had this Masters 13 months ago but the golf’s not in the same place.
“If I got the game somewhere near I could maybe draw on that and use it because I’ve been there and done it. But when you are playing at 7.55 on a Sunday morning – regardless of what beautiful memories I have from April 2016 – they can’t somehow enhance you to play brilliantly.
“I did have a fantastic playing partner though. I hope he had a great day.”
For Jennings, 31, sharing the stage with Willett was a once-ina-lifetime experience.
“Danny was an absolute superstar and made it so easy. I said to him at first, ‘If you want me to keep out of your way then I will do’. But he said, ‘No, let’s play golf together’.
“I was so scared the night before but once I got out there I just enjoyed it. It was very special.
“It is not often I get to play in things like this. In fact, never. It was just unbelievable. What an experience. I was probably nine over by the time I three-putted the last, which was a bit of a shame, but I’ll take that.
“How often do you get to play with a Masters champion? Not only that, but one from Yorkshire like myself? It was very special. I’m ready for the Stella in the bar from one of the members.”
Willett was in no mood for celebrations. He was already thinking ahead to a session with his coach Pete Cowen to try to mould his game into something presentable for the Bridgestone Invitational and USPGA Championship.
“I’m going to work with Pete and see if we can get a few things ironed out,” he said.
“I have got a week off before Akron and the USPGA so I have got two really big tournaments coming up. I have really got to have a look and see what we can do and make sure we get more out of it. Hopefully I can come back and play pretty good afterwards.”