Danny Willett says a rethink and a reset with his team after withdrawing from last week’s BMW International Open has helped him make his first cut at The Renaissance Club and first at the Genesis Scottish Open since 2018.
The 2016 Masters Champion withdrew after the opening round at last week's BMW International Open as a precaution after feeling pain, then returned home for treatment and a “rethink” with his physios and coaches before travelling to Scotland.
Arriving on what he called a late invitation, Willett came with low expectations but produced an opening 67 on Thursday, matching it on Friday to sit on six under par heading into the weekend.
"Pulled out last week, precautionary. I was in pain," he explained. "I didn't want to make it worse. Went home and had a really nice weekend. Saw the physios, saw the coaches, had a sit down, you know. Had like a little bit of a rethink, reset. Came up here. Got to see the kids. I've been a way a lot travelling randomly, even though I have not been miles away, I haven't been able to see everyone. Nice to spend the day with them Monday, and travel up here Tuesday morning.
"It's not that the expectations were low, but I put a good weekend of work in at home so I could come here and just try and play, free up, and like I said, see how the golf course is playing. And the fact it’s playing slightly different to what guys are used to… it’ll be interesting to see where the wind is, how strong it stays over the weekend, and what the winning score will be.”
Willett is unfortunately no stranger to pain, having battled throughout the past decade with shoulder issues, back pain, numbness and surgery.
There have been plenty of highlights in between, including his most recent 2022 victory at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, and Willett was pleased to see good signs with his recent tied seventh at the KLM Open.
Reflecting on his opening two rounds, which were highlighted by Thursday's hole out from the bunker at the ninth and a putt from the 14th, Willett called it two good days of work out there.
"Two good days' work, two very different days, wind switches, and the Tour put some good flags out with where the wind's been," he reflected further.
"For the most part, a couple dodgy ones today, but for the most part, 36 holes, put myself in play a lot, which you need to be in these fairways to put your spin on it to hold up against the crosswinds, and holed a couple of putts.
"Obviously the last few weeks have been a bit in and out and showed some good signs in Holland and missed the cut in Canada. Always nice to come. Crowds have been fantastic. Playing golf in Scotland is always amazing and even nicer to have shot a couple of good ones."
Those 67s are significant, marking just the second and third under par rounds, and first cut, in six appearances at The Renaissance Club.
Asked what clicked this time around, Willett was quick to point to the conditions of both the weather and the course.
"The first few years we came here, the weather's always been pretty good, I think, and the rough has always been down," he said. "So the lads who hit it a long way, they take most of the bunkers out of play, smash it over corners, and it's not what I can do.
"So when the rough is up in spots this year, which it is, and slightly different crosswind and slightly stronger than it has been, they have tucked the pins a little bit. I think a few of the lads have probably had to play the golf course different than what you've seen the last few years.
"Down ten, for example, you see a lot of guys short of the trap this year, whereas in the past they all just hit it towards the next tee box. There's a little bit of everything.
"But yeah, got a late invite in here, not that we were umming and ahhing about taking it; but the fact that I haven't really performed very well on this property, it is what it is.
"You play good golf and regardless of what golf course you're on, if it suits your eye, you play some good golf, and have a nice weekend."
