[PHOTO: Douglas P. DeFelice]
Given how mad Innisbrook drove some pros this past week, 18 pars on the Copperhead course is something a lot of guys might sign for. Of course, there were birdies to be had, particularly on the final day. Danny Willett had exactly zero of them, however.
Willett began the day in a tie for 49th and ended the day in a tie for 47th, improving his position slightly without ever entering red numbers during his final round. He parred every single hole, shooting an even-par 71 on a day when all but four players in the top 21 broke par.
“That was riveting,” Willett tweeted afterwards.
The Englishman also added that he didn’t think he’d ever made 26 straight pars before. If you include the third round, the 2016 Masters winner began a preposterous par streak at the par-4 12th, his final birdie of the week coming at the par-5 11th. Prior to that, he had made nine pars and one bogey to begin his Saturday. Friday was a bit more colourful, Willett shooting a one-over 72 with four bogeys and three birdies. The first round? An even-par 71 with one birdie and one bogey.
Well, that was riveting!
I don’t think I’ve had 26 straight pars before.. usually throw in at least a few bogeys 😂 pic.twitter.com/hOzv5m7KRz— Danny Willett (@Danny_Willett) March 23, 2025
Steady, steady stuff. What you may call boring, though, guys like Patton Kizzire, Sahith Theegala and Adam Hadwin would have all signed for last week. To make 61 pars on 72 holes at that course, on that windy week, is downright heroic. Making it all the more impressive was the fact that Willett lost more than five strokes(!) on approach shots during the four rounds and nearly a full stroke off the tee. An all-world short game – Willett ranked fourth in strokes gained/around-the-green and 13th in putting – saved him.
