The Texan was also looking to become only the fourth player to win back-to-back green jackets; a third major championship victory at 22 years and nine months would have put him almost a year ahead of Jack Nicklaus’s pace in winning a record 18 majors.
But then Willett had other things on his mind as he was busting to spend a penny.
Jordan Spieth helps Danny Willett slip into the most sought after item of clothing in golf.
It’s pretty difficult to just go in the trees at Augusta. You don’t want to get in too much trouble and it was the first bathroom we had seen in a while,” he said.
He knew there was a ‘porta loo’ at the back of the 15th green and Willett used the short time within the confined space to clear his head and think of the bigger picture that lay ahead – becoming Masters Champion.
“It was quite nice to have a couple of minutes of silence with no one there,” said Willett.
“So, I said to myself: ‘Look, this is what you practice for. You’ve got to make five good swings and hole a couple of putts and see what happens. You’re in this position – this is what you want to do’.”
Willett washed his hands and then stood on the par three, 16th putting a stunning 8-iron to seven feet to for birdie before then closing out the 80th Masters par, par to give him a three-shot victory.
The birth of a son changed the life of he and wife, Nicole and being fitted with an Augusta National members green jacket changed his career.
And when Willett walks off the 15th green in practice next week he’ll no doubt glance in the direction of the porta loo and think to himself that never has a ‘call to nature’ on a golf course proved so important.
