Jonathan Smart, a childhood friend of 2016 Masters champion Danny Willett, has effectively fired the English golfer after an incident at the RBC Heritage.
Willett’s form has waned since Jordan Spieth placed the Green Jacket on his shoulders, with no wins and only four top-6 finishes to go with a number of missed cuts.
According to Iain Carter, Smart felt ‘mistreated’ by Willett and informed the world number 21 mid-event that he would not be working for him any longer.
Smart will be replaced by Sam Haywood, who currently carries American David Lipsky’s bag, for this week’s Players Championship.
‘Things are a bit stale and kind of fizzled out,’ Willett told BBC Sport.
‘It is a shame. But things happen and change, everything happens for a reason.
‘We are still working hard to get the game in shape. to get back playing the golf we know we can play.’
Haywood was Willett’s best man at his wedding. but has no made long-term commitment to carry his bag on a permanent basis.
Photo: Getty Images
