Danny Willett targets Augusta return after injury nightmare

Danny Willett has set his sights on a return to action at Augusta National next month as he looks to end almost seven months of injury hell.

The 2016 Masters champion has been sidelined since September after undergoing shoulder surgery the week after the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

Willett, 36, had nursed a shoulder issue for a number of years before finally undergoing an operation last autumn in a bid to fix it once and for all.

Speaking on the latest episode of The bunkered Podcast, he revealed that his rehab is on track and that a return to golf at the first major of the year is firmly in his sights.

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“It’s all good,” said Willett. “It’s been a pretty slow process but the last couple of months, we’ve seen some really good progression in terms of strength and I’m able to hit balls again now.

“There’s a seven or eight-week countdown to Augusta and we’ll rush through a few things to see if we might be able to get ready by then. It might be a bit too close but I definitely want to give it a good go.”

Whilst other players bemoan being forced onto the sidelines through injury, the characteristically upbeat Willett has been making the most of it.

“I’ve actually really enjoyed being off,” he laughed. “’ve had four or five months of being able to take the kids to school, watch them play football and lots of other things that, ordinarily, I wouldn’t be able to do.

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“When it became clear I needed to have the surgery, it was one of those things where you kind of have to change your mindset, accept that’s the way it’s going to be and try to turn it into a positive. So, it’s been really nice to be at home.

“When it first happened, I was in a 90-degree sling for five weeks but you can’t be upset about it. We did it because we thought it was the right thing to do to have a prolonged career and the way it feels now, I think it’s going to prove to have been a good decision.”

Willett was speaking to The bunkered Podcast in his capacity as an ambassador for Prostate Cancer UK, which this week launched The Big Golf Race 2024.

To find out more about the event and how you can get involved, click here.

To listen to the full interview with Danny Willett, click here or search for “The bunkered Podcast” wherever you get your podcasts.

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor