Tuesday 25 July 2017 00:04, UK
Danny Willett says he would consider surgery to solve his ongoing injury problems after another disappointing performance at The Open.
The 29-year-old has withdrawn from three of his last six events with a back injury, which has severely hampered his form.
Willett, who in April became the first reigning Masters champion to miss the cut at Augusta since Mike Weir in 2004, carded a final of 71 to finish nine over par and 76th out of the 77 players at Royal Birkdale.
"We're working pretty hard at home doing stuff, but the week before Birkdale we only started to hit balls on Friday," the Yorkshireman said.
"We had five days completely on our back, an MRI and saw a back specialist, so in terms of preparation for a golf tournament, it's not amazing, especially when you know you're struggling.
"I was on Voltarol all week and wasn't doing much practice," he added. "The L5 (disc) and the sacrum were out from the x-ray which is why it hurts when I rotate on it."
When asked if surgery could be the answer, Willett said: "I don't know. I'd do anything that helped.
"I don't think it does need surgery, it's more just getting it in line and the only thing that irritates it massively is swinging poorly."
His appearance at Royal Birkdale was only the second time he has managed to play a full tournament since the WGC-Mexico Championship on March 5.
Speaking about his performance at The Open, Willett said: "Four rounds is great, but you're still finishing virtually last.
"In an ideal world we'd have taken a few months off but it's a time of year when you need to be playing well."
Willett also believes the newly-crowned Open champion Jordan Spieth was always capable of recovering from his Masters meltdown.
Spieth famously squandered a five-shot lead with nine holes to play at Augusta National in 2016, with Willett taking full advantage to claim his first major title thanks to a superb closing 67.
