THE 149TH OPEN

July 15, 2021

Danny Willett

Mixed Zone

STUART MOFFATT: Joined by Danny Willett. Take questions from the interview room.

Q. You must be delighted with your first round with five birdies from the final seven holes. After a fast start, did you take your push you have punishment in the middle section and then kick on for the last few holes?

DANNY WILLETT: Yeah, we played well all day really. Put the ball in play. Gave ourselves the ability to not have to hack around the rough too many times.

Really poor swing on 6. First time we've had the wind out of the right all day and just misjudged how much it was going to move it. Obviously missed it where you can't in that left bunker.

And then, yeah, just a couple of soft bogeys really. I had a few chances, and then it was nice to stay patient and to really come in strong. Last few, obviously gives you the looks there with the flight positions and how the wind is playing. Yeah, delighted to kind of kick off with a sub-70.

Q. Are the conditions changing from start to finish or is it consistent wind and green conditions throughout the whole thing?

DANNY WILLETT: I mean, we've had northeast, northerly, northwest the last few days really in practice, so you're more or more or less out there out of the north all week. I think it's forecast like that, and I think it's going to stay pretty consistent. I think you're going to get a really fair Open throughout the day unless the wind really lays down in the evenings.

The golf course is playing real good. Probably like to see it a little firmer, but obviously nothing they can do about that with the conditions. Get a little bit of sunshine and the wind keep pumping like it is, and it will firm up through the week. I think it's going to be a very fair test for everyone throughout the day.

Q. How important is it to get off to a strong start in the first round of a major?

DANNY WILLETT: Yeah, it is. It is always nice. I think you look back at most people who have done well or won major championships, they're always within the top 20, top 30 after day one. You're going out there really -- you're still getting feel for it. You're still nervous on that first day. You've done your homework the last few days and getting to know how the golf course is. When the gong goes, obviously it's a slightly different scenario.

Nice to come out and put yourself in a position where whether you're a few back or whatever it is, you're in a position where you can keep moving forward.

Q. And just one more about the fans. Must be great to be playing in front of fans again. How does that feel?

DANNY WILLETT: Yeah, I mean, British guys, British fans are the best in the world. The Open is a very special venue, a very special tournament for everyone.

Yeah, to be able to be clapped on to every tee, every green, really guys who know, spectators, fans who know golf, makes a big difference in this game. Been out there in the thousands all week, and it's been fantastic to have them back.