Report: Former Masters champ set for six-month (!) injury absence

Danny Willett, who won the 2016 Masters, is reportedly going to be out of action for six months after deciding to undergo surgery on his shoulder.

Ben Smith

20 Sep 2023

Report: Former Masters champ set for six-month (!) injury absence

Former Masters champion Danny Willett is reportedly set to be out of action for six months.

Willett, 35, was briefly in contention to add a second BMW PGA Championship title to his repertoire at Wentworth last week.

But throughout the tournament it was evident just how much pain Willett was in.

The Englishman is struggling with a shoulder injury and despite going to extreme lengths to manage the pain, Willett will go under the knife.

Press Association have reported Willett is scheduled for surgery next week and the estimated time it will take for him to recover fully is six months.

It means the golfer now faces a race against time to be fit for the start of the 2024 major championship season.

"When it goes it goes," Willett said in Surrey after his opening round at the West Course.

He had played the first 12 holes in 6-under but aggravated the shoulder tear at the par-4 15th after striking his tee shot.

Despite the pain, the Englishman didn't withdraw and posted rounds of 70, 71, 71 and 76 to finish 64th.

Ryan Fox recovered from an early triple bogey to pip England's Tyrrell Hatton and upstage Europe's Ryder Cup side in Virginia Water.

As for Willett, the 2016 Masters champion has endured another campaign with mixed results.

He looked as though he was going to win the PGA Tour's Fortinet Championship but his hopes were dashed when Max Homa chipped in at the 72nd hole and he three-putted to hand the American the win.

Willett then withdrew from back-to-back events before enduring another frustrating year in the majors.

He missed the cut at the 87th Masters and the PGA Championship. He finished T-68 at the 151st Open at Royal Liverpool.

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