As a former Masters champion, Danny Willett will certainly be at Augusta Nationwide for the primary main of the 12 months.
Whether or not he’s there simply to pattern the delights of Jon Rahm’s menu for the champions dinner or swinging a golf membership in anger is much less sure as he battles to regain full health following shoulder surgical procedure.
Willett seemed set to problem for a second BMW PGA Championship title in September when he lined his first 12 holes in six underneath par, solely to worsen a shoulder tear after hitting his tee shot on the fifteenth.
The 2019 champion performed by the ache barrier and accomplished all 72 holes at Wentworth however underwent surgical procedure the next week and faces a race in opposition to time to compete at Augusta, the place he received in dramatic type in 2016.
“The surgical procedure went rather well, I’m again hitting balls proper now It’s been a very long time rehabbing it simply to get it as much as power to have the ability to take the capability and the load that it must. We’ll know extra once we begin practising in America as to how we’re getting on.
“The fantastic thing about probably taking part in [the Masters] is the truth that I do know the golf course that effectively I’m most likely not going to be slogging round 18 holes on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in observe rounds.
“I’ll be capable to take it somewhat bit simpler however I additionally don’t need to go there and simply make up the numbers.”
Willett had been managing his shoulder drawback for a number of months earlier than it flared up at Wentworth and the extent of the harm was solely found when he went underneath the knife.
“We thought there was one tear and when the surgeon went in he realised there have been two tears and a very good bit of harm across the cartilage and some cysts he needed to filter out,” Willett stated.
“It’s a fairly intrusive surgical procedure and it was a bit scary once I first got here out and I may barely elevate my very own hand. You marvel should you’ve executed the suitable factor however now it feels fairly good.
“In the end I’m solely 36 so I’ve nonetheless acquired a hell of a very long time left in my profession, so to have this day out now will hopefully imply I can come again and delay my profession and have one other good 10 or 15 years at it.”
Willett is now into his fourth 12 months of supporting Prostate Most cancers UK’s fundraising efforts and raised £38,000 as host of the British Masters for 2 years as title sponsors Betfred donated £1,000 for each birdie he made.
The 36-year-old admits it was “staggering” to be taught that prostate most cancers impacts one in eight males within the UK and is backing this 12 months’s The Massive Golf Race, which challenges golfers to play 36, 72 and even 100 holes in a day.
“It’s an amazing charity to assist,” Willett stated. “As males, if one thing’s not proper or we don’t really feel effectively, very not often will we go and get it sorted so it was about making individuals conscious to go and get checked.
“Certainly one of my previous England coaches Steve Rolley was identified and thankfully they acquired it early sufficient and he’s now positive. It’s superb how many individuals it has affected that you realize, however how little data there was on the market about it.”
Danny Willett is supporting Prostate Most cancers UK’s golf fundraising problem, The Massive Golf Race, which is asking on golfers to tackle 36, 72 or 100 holes in a day to boost cash and assist save males’s lives. To enroll, go to prostatecanceruk.org/get-involved/exercise/golf/the-big-golf-race
