No ill effects as Willett remains in contention

He may have been under the weather but Danny Willett produced superbly consistent golf to stay in contention at the Maybank Championship.
Danny Willett with caddy Jonathan Smart at the Maybank ChampionshipDanny Willett with caddy Jonathan Smart at the Maybank Championship
Danny Willett with caddy Jonathan Smart at the Maybank Championship

The Sheffield golfer caught a bad cold on his way to Malaysia earlier this week and felt the effects during his second round on Friday.

But he showed good resolve for a two under par 69 to move to -8 for the championship.

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Willett is tied for third, five shots off Australian Nathan Holman who extended his overnight lead to -13.

“I didn’t feel great today,” Willett said.

“I got out there and started quite nicely but I think the fatigue levels and a little bit of cold caught up with me and I hit a few iffy shots down the stretch.

“But if you’d offered me -8 after two rounds then I certainly would have taken that.

“I’m really happy to dig in and a couple under today, you can’t really sniff at.”

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Willett’s ailments have only been exacerbated by the severe humidity in Kuala Lumpur.

“You can’t get enough food and water inside you because you’re sweating everything out,” he said.

“Every time you bend over for the ball you think your face is going to fall through.

He is unlikely to get any respite from the conditions as his third round will come in the height of the day with him out at 10.15am (2.15am GMT) on Saturday alongside Holman and Richard Bland.

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Fellow Sheffield golfer Matt Fitzpatrick missed his second cut in three events as his slow start to the year continued.

He shot a one over par round of 72 to take him back to level par which was not enough to see him through the cut at -1.

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