FLEETWOOD LOVES HIGH OF THE TIGER Tommy eyes Woods Ryder Cup showdown
WILLETT READY TO RUMBLE
said the Dane. He goes outside borders of the game – a Ryder Cup with Tiger Woods back would be amazing.”
But the first two days of the Masters showed Woods, 42, and his game are still a work in progress.
Before teeing off on his return to Major golf, Woods said he was coming to Augusta for a “W” (win) and claimed: “I like my chances.”
But after his second round 75, he admitted his iron play was “awful” and described a shot over the fifth green on his way to double bogey as “c**p”. He also found Rae’s Creek twice on the 12th.
Sir Nick Faldo said: “I am surprised how he has played. We knew about the driver. It can always be left or right. But his iron shots over the last few weeks were superb. He really lost it at the 12th hole over the first two days. I think that will really be concerning him.”
Former world No.1 David Duval said: “We all want to hurry him along, but there is a competitive rustiness he still has. He is a sentimental favourite more than a favourite.” DANNY WILLETT is targeting a return to top form at next month’s BMW PGA at Wentworth.
The 2016 Masters champion, who is now down at world No.296, missed the cut at the Masters for the second successive year.
But after ending last season early to recover from injury and revamping his swing, the Yorkshireman insisted he is now moving in the right direction. “It’s a bummer I didn’t make the cut but I didn’t pick up a club for 15 weeks over the winter,” he said.
“The week after Malaysia (in February) was the first week in five years I haven’t had a painkiller. The movement is really good and I’m pain-free.
“It’s only in the last two weeks that I have been able to have a full day of practice without pain the next day. It’s been three or four years since I could say that. Even if you’re playing great golf, if you’re in pain every day I don’t think it leads to a fantastic career.
“It’s nice to be able to go home and play with the kids rather than having to smash down painkillers.
“It would have been good to have come here and done a lot of reps and feel everything is in great condition. But Wentworth is probably more realistic. Hopefully by then everything will be bedded in and we will be good to go.”