Willett sees good fortune swinging in his favour
DANNY WILLETT is prepared to take the pain of yet another missed cut this week at the Masters if it means turning around his career.
The Yorkshireman has suffered 15 of them in 43 events since winning the tournament in 2016 including four withdrawals and a walk-off at his last event, the Arnold Palmer Invitational, with a shoulder issue.
The swing reconstruction he is patiently putting in place with coach Sean Foley after his split from Pete Cowen last August is yet to bear fruit, but Willett is certain it will.
He has no wish to join the list of ceremonial former champions in the Masters field at the age of just 30.
“I’m on a good path but it takes a while,” said Willett, who has dropped to world No 296.
“Whenever it happens it happens. It could be next week, it might be a month, it might take longer – but it is going to happen.
“Sean has a good blueprint of what we’re trying to achieve and how we’re going to achieve it. We’re trying to make some really big changes and under tournament pressure that’s always a little bit tricky because it’s always easier to revert to type.
“I’m going out there this week to try to make some really good moves and to enjoy myself on a golf course that I have very fond memories of.”
Willett blames his recent shoulder issue on the swing shake-up he is attempting to embed. “The body is in a completely different position
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to what it has been in for five years,” said Willett.
“As much as the back has not bothered me for six months – I’ve not had a painkiller for a long, long time – some muscles are now being used that have never been used.”
He is not 100 per cent but will tee it up at Augusta today as he searches for the spark to revive his career.
Foley, the Canadian who also works with Justin Rose, accepts this Masters is unlikely to be the turning point for his charge.
“I’m optimistic about the big picture but I’m also realistic in the short term,” said Foley.
“Would I love to see him lead this tournament going into the weekend? Yes. Could he do that? Of course.
“But when someone is really hurt, as Danny was with his back, you have to make certain changes and you have to go through that. If that means shooting 69, 75, 77, 71 that doesn’t matter because a career is a long time.
“We’re up 6mph in club-head speed so he’s generating energy efficiently, but that doesn’t mean when he goes out to the first hole his subconscious won’t think he’s an idiot for doing this new thing.
“My dad calls golf the beautiful struggle. The valleys are there to give you the ability to reach greater summits.”