Old Master Willett on way back
DANNY REVIVED BY A 65
WHERE better to display the first signs of a long overdue renaissance than the Italian Open? On the shores of Lake Garda, amid a leaderboard overflowing with Englishmen on day one, stood the forgotten man, danny Willett. The 2016 masters champion, who has fallen all the way from the top 10 to 462nd in the world, shot a firstround 65 that left him just two strokes off the pace set by countrymen robert rock, who won this title in 2011, Laurie Canter and South african richard Sterne.
Willett’s bogey-free six-under-par round was his best for seven months and lowest of this wretched year by three shots.
‘How nice to hit a lot of really good golf shots and feel like I can go low,’ said the 30-year-old Yorkshireman. How nice, indeed, given a run in which he has gone more than a year since his last top 10.
In another impressive illustration of the strength in depth of English golf, matt Wallace also shot 65, as did ross Fisher, while another ryder Cup hopeful, matt Fitzpatrick, shot 66. assistant captain Lee Westwood handed in a 66, as did tournament host and last week’s winner of the BMW PGA Championship, Francesco molinari.
With its beefed-up status, now it is a rolex event, a player such as Fisher, Fitzpatrick or molinari would all but book his place in Europe’s ryder Cup team by claiming the £879,000 first prize.
meanwhile, at the memorial Tournament at muirfield Village, Ohio, playing partners Justin rose and Tiger Woods were struggling so badly after seven holes it seemed their lofty ambitions for the week had already given way to a grim battle to make the halfway cut.
rose, who began the event with a career- first world no 1 spot in his sights, was two over par while Tiger, hoping to return to winning ways, was faring even worse at four over.
What a massive letdown for the enormous crowd, or so it seemed. as we know, both men are wellversed in the art of bouncing back and rose recovered to shoot a 71, while Woods matched the par of 72. The early leader was mexican abraham ancer, who shot 65.
‘ I played really well but my putter was cold, so given that I’m pleased with the way I battled back,’ said rose.
mel reid shot 70 in the US Women’s Open to be three behind early pacesetter ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand. Charley Hull shot 73.