WILLETT’S DARK DAYS ARE OVER

DANNY WILLETT is relieved to be back in contention after “pitch-black, dark times”.

The 2016 Masters champion carded a promising two-under first round 69.

It could have been even better if the Englishman had not found bunkers on approaches to the last two holes to bogey each.

But Willett (above) was still upbeat after arriving in Scotland ranked No.320 in the world after a huge slump amid injury and loss of form.

Willett, 30, reflected: “It’s definitely nice to be stood here after shooting a relatively stress-free 69. I’m pretty hopeful we’ll never be in as dark a place as we were – it was pitch-black.

“It wasn’t good for a while, the body was being really uncooperative.

“Unfortunately, trying to travel and play 26 weeks around the world – travelling countless amounts of air miles – isn’t good for the body.”