Danny Willett’s title defence of this week’s 25th anniversary BMW International Open in Munich is being hampered by a back injury.
The England golfer has not competed on the European Tour in near a month since having to withdraw in the second round of the Nordea Masters.
Willett traced the injury back to the Omega Dubai Desert Classic earlier this year and it unfortunately resulted in him having to withdraw from last week’s US Open at Merion.
Danny Willett returns for his defence of the 25th BMW International Open but battling a niggling back injury. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
“I had an MRI on my back just recently but it meant I had to pull out of Sweden and the US Open but it’s getting there,” he said.
“It’s a slow process and I’ve been having plenty of rest and treatment on my back but percentage wise I would say it’s about 60 to 70% fit.
“My physio and I went back over the shots I played in Dubai trying to work out how it may have happened and where I may have given it a little niggle.
“I did have an akward bunker shot at the ninth and that may have caused it in stretching down to play a shot.
“Of course, I tried to play on that week and then went to Joburg the week after and tried to play with the injury there.
“But then after the Tshwane Open (March 3rd ending) I’ve had about a 12-week rest and trying to get it better.
“I came back to play the BMW PGA at Wentworth but my back was only average there, and I had to play on pain-killers. Then I went to Sweden and it didn’t feel great and it was then we found a few things wrong in my back after having an MRI.”
Regretably, it’s not the 25-year old’s first major injury in his career of the prolific former amateur winner.
“It’s strange that everytime I’ve given myself a chance to break into the top-50 I’ve picked a niggling injury because I recall finishing second to Martin Kaymer here in 2008, and I got a fracture in one of my ribs and that affected the rest of my season,” said Willett.
“Then after having a good season last year, and highlighted by my win in this event, I was trying to push on and get into events like the WGC – Match-Play and once again an injury had held me back.
“Hopefully, and touch wood, it doesn’t come back. But the good thing is I am back training and hitting a lot of balls again but then it is very stiff in the morning and I have to stretch it out.”
Organisers have grouped Willett with Germany’s Alex Cejka and Dutchman Joost Luiten for the opening two rounds of the Euro 2m event being played on the Muchen Eichenried course on the outskirts of the Bavarian capital.
