Ponte Vedre, FL …
Danny Willett’s wretched run continues in singling out a back complaint in withdrawing after just 9-holes on day two of the Players Championship in Florida.
Willett had posted a Thursday opening score of a seven-over par 79 and was four-over for his nine holes on day two that included, and for a second day running, finding water in taking a triple-bogey ‘6’ at the famed island-green 17th that he was playing as his eight hole.
In fact, after his tee shot made a splash Willett moved to the ‘drop zone’ he proceeded to put his third shot also in the water.
“Yeah, the back’s been a little bit on and off”, he said to The Golf Channel.
Happier days for Danny Willett than the disappointment at this weeks Players Championship in Florida.
“But swinging it like I’m swinging it, that’s when it kind of fires the back up. We woke up this morning and it was tight. I don’t really need to see anyone else to tell me, I’ve had it many a time before.
“Hopefully, touch wood. We’ll see, see how things go”.
It has been a continuing difficult time for the 29-year old who saw his Augusta National winning caddy, Jonathan Smart give Willett the sack after a blazing on-course disagreement during the first round of the RBC Heritage Classic at Hilton Head, and a week after his Masters defence.
Smart indicated he was ‘fed-up’ in being to shoulder Willett constantly singling him out for poor shots.
Smart left the course and headed straight back to the UK leaving a member of his ISM management team to act as caddy for the second round that saw him shoot a 78 and miss the cut.
And Willett turned-up at this week’s $US 10.5m Players Championship with ‘best friend’ Sam Haywood on the bag.
Haywood had been best man at Willett’s wedding, but this week was just a one-week partnership given Haywood is working the European Tour full-time in caddying for American David Lipsky.
“Sam’s my best friend. We grew up playing a lot of golf,” Willett said ahead of this week’s Florida event.
“He’s just a good friend of mine. He’s doing this week and then I’m going to have to try to find someone for the next few weeks.”
And while Willett has contested two “no-cut” WGC events this year, he is not played all four rounds since sharing fifth place in the Maybank Championship in Malaysian in February, for his only worldwide top-10 finish of 2017.
