Former Masters champion Danny Willett is 'touch and go' to compete at this year's tournament.
The 36-year-old claimed his one and only major at Augusta in 2016 and is desperate to have the chance to regain the title eight years later after experiencing the greatest moment of his career. He finished three strokes ahead of Jordan Spieth and Lee Westwood to claim the crown that year, but the Englishman has told Betfred he's still unsure whether he'll play in Georgia this month.
This is because he underwent shoulder surgery after the BMW PGA Championship last September and is in a race against time to be fit. "It’s still touch and go in terms of whether I play at Augusta," Willet said. "Usually I head up to Augusta with Nick and the boys along with my grandparents and friends whereas this year it’s going to be just me and [my wife] Nicole.
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"There are a few areas [of my game] that need sprucing up but this year has been very quiet compared to seven years ago which has been nice. We’ll see what happens but I'll have to be aware not to burn myself out by the time the tournament starts."
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Willett became only the fourth British player to win the Masters when he stormed to victory, and the success helped him move up to his highest position of No.9 in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR). Although he is grateful to have joined golf's elite group of major winners, he said it was both a blessing and a curse.
"There was good and bad. Everything changed within the golfing world," he said. "I became a major champion and there’s not many golfers out there that can say that. That is the big part of it. The win climbed me into the top 10 in the world.
Willett won the Masters in 2016 - three shots ahead of Jordan Spieth and Lee Westwood (AFP/Getty Images)"But I was hounded with questions left, right and centre about winning the Grand Slam as is the nature when you win the Green Jacket. For the next two years, I was having cameras all on me whether that was at a putting session or a chipping session. It does get intrusive. I wasn’t fully prepared for the media attention. I struggled with that at times."
Irrespective of Willett’s appearance at this year's Masters, he will still be at Augusta as he will attend the annual Masters Champions Dinner. Defending Masters champion Jon Rahm created a menu inspired by his Basque roots.
For starters, there are a selection of tapas which includes Iberico ham, Mama Rahm’s Classic Lentil Stew, Spicy Basque chorizo and potato, Spanish omelette and creamy chicken fritters. The 'first course' is Basque crab salad with potato, served with a Basque ribeye steak with Tudelo lettuce and piquillo peppers or turbot and Navarra white asparagus served for the main.
Rahm’s desert is a Miljojas de Crema y Nata - puff pastry cake, custard and Chantilly cream. Ahead of his eighth Champions Dinner, Willett says he is still in disbelief that he has a place at the esteemed table for the rest of his career.
"I have to pinch myself every time I go back there," he said. "You’re sat in the locker room chatting to the guys before dinner. Out of the whole week, that’s the most surreal part for me. Being across from Jack [Nicklaus] and sitting opposite Gary [Player] with Ben Crenshaw hosting and telling their own personal Masters stories, it’s a special night."
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