Willett fired up by the ‘unique’ Olympic spirit
Masters champion has been getting into the swing of the Games – alongside the Murrays It seems entirely appropriate that, whatever its status, this will be considered a highly unusual tournament on a course with no rough or trees, with 10-stone rodents wandering the fairways, owls buried in bunkers at the same time as minialligators are hurried away from the action. Because the sight of golfers competing in the Olympics will seem as rare as it gets.
When Adilson da Silva hits the opening teeshot here at 7.30am today, the 40,863-day wait since George Lyon’s winning putt in 1904 will finally end. “What did I do to deserve such a honour?” Da Silva, the world No288, asked. Well, apart from being Brazilian. But nobody should scoff, least of all the stayaways, because the topranked player in the host country is the perfect choice for such a historic shot, one which the game’s authorities are praying will help spread the golfing gospel around the world. How they could do with a positive week – and, more to the point, with positive viewing figures, to convince the International Olympic Committee to retain golf on its roster beyond 2020 in Tokyo. An Asian in contention would greatly assist in this regard; a Byeong-Hun An for South Korea perhaps, or a Anirban Lahiri for India, or – the dream scenario as far as the ratings are concerned – an Ashun Wu for China. All of these scenarios are possible and more, because this is golf on a new layout which could be affected by the weather. Lyon was a shock for Canada 112 years ago and as the former world No 1 David Duval put it here yesterday: “It will be a surprise if there isn’t an upset this week.”
Yet the betting market demands that there have to be favourites for this 72-hole individual strokeplay event, and with Rory McIlroy and the rest of the world’s top four missing in their inaction, the Team GB duo of Justin Rose and Danny Willett has to be figured among them.
“Yeah, I would say I’m on the shortlist,” Rose said following his final practice round. “If you wanted to rank it, I would say Henrik [Stenson, the Open champion] is top – but I’m right there, for sure. I think as we all know, if I have my week, I’m going to be as hard to beat as anybody. I’m feeling good about the course, I’m feeling good about my game and my preparation and yeah, I’m looking forward to it.”
Close by, his caddie, Mark Fulcher, nodded and grasped the GB badge on his shirt with a smile. The pair have been in Rio since Friday
and, apart from becoming fully versed on Gil Hanse’s creation, they have thrown themselves head first into the Olympic experience.
“It’s been a valuable few days, I’ve really enjoyed it,” Rose said. “But now it’s time to get the attention fully on the golf; it’s business as usual.” Except it isn’t, it can’t be, certainly not for Willett (left). It emerged at last month’s Open that he and his caddie, John Smart, and the Team GB captain Jamie Spence would be sharing a floor at the Athletes’ Village with Andy and Jamie Murray, and the close contact has clearly had an effect on the Yorkshireman.
“Danny has spent a lot of time with the Murrays and has loved every moment,” Spence said. “How could you not be inspired by mixing with a sportsman like that? Andy has won a gold and Danny has talked to him about it.”
Tennis was golf not so long ago, coming back into the fiveringed fold after its own absence, and in a few respects Murray was Willett. The difference is that Murray did not win a grand slam trophy until after his Olympic glory and Willett already possesses his green jacket. But the sense of a breakthrough year is there, as is the motivation of the pure Olympic spirit.
“This is the most fun I’ve had for a long time,” Willett said as he pondered for the first time playing at an event where golf is not the biggest draw.
“It’s kind of gone back to before I was any good and actually working properly. You know, week in, week out we play for millions of dollars, we get free rooms here, free flights there, and we’re spoilt, really. But here we are in an apartment block surrounded by athletes who just want to win a gold medal. That’s the be-all and end-all. And that in itself is fantastic.
“There’s probably, I don’t know, 500 people in that block, and we’re all looking at how everyone else is doing. It’s a unique feeling, a unique team, and it’s one that feels pretty good to be part of.”
Could it be that this will help Willett release himself from that burdensome tag of Masters champion? Whoever prevails in the 60-strong field will claim an exclusive place in the game. Next to Lyon, in golf ’s golden succession.