Dubai, UAE …
It comes as no surprise when Danny Willett admits he’s come from ‘No Man’s Land’ to be now ranked 90th in the World Rankings and end his European Tour year 20th on the Race to Dubai.
Willett was ranked a lowly 276th on the World Rankings in teeing-up in last week’s DP World Tour Championshiip and this was after the 2016 Masters winner had plunged to World No. 462 in missing the cut last May at Wentworth.
“To get back into double figures on the World Rankings from where I was earlier this year is always nice”, said Willett.
“I have been in the middle of the triple figures for a while, so I have been in kind of no man’s land where I have had really good week’s and with my big goal this year to finish top-20 on the Race to Dubai.
“That needed a couple of good weeks and so I’ve managed to just sneak into the top-20 but then all these things that seemed so easy when I was top-10, top-50 in the world and where you set your schedule around the four Majors and the four WGSc, and you would play bits-and-bobs here and there.
“So, it’s been a long time since I’ve played in these events where there is a field of 70 or 75 guys, and to be playing against the world’s best.
Finishing 20th on the Race to Dubai has seen Willett qualify for next year’s WGC – Mexico Championship while he still has a lifetime Augusta National exemption while his Masters win means he is exempt for the next three years into the other three Majors.
“To now have qualified for WGC Mexico next year is a real good achievement and hopefully then I can press on and get into more-and-more events and I piece together a schedule then that is focussed aroudn the four Majors and the four WGSs,” he said.
“So, you have to keep your head on and keep playing well.”
“The last six months now I’ve been eighth in Italy, sixth in Ireland and seventh in Turkey, so I’ve been putting myself in positions where I know the golf game is close and all I’ve need is for a full putts to roll my way.
“I’ve worked tirelessly to try and get into this position and it’s just nice to get back into the winner’s circle.
“It was no fun turning up to tournaments just to make-up the numbers but then knowing you’re in a bit of pain, and you’re taking pills that kind of takeaway the sharpness of the pain. You go through your warm-up, go play and then shoot 74 and get back to the hotel, take your shoes off and then head off to the gym again trying to get your body to feel better, so yes, it was all tiring.
“I was spending a lot of time working and doing something that wasn’t quite there.
“The funny thing now is I am working slightly less on the game and I’m working smarter and worker harder but in a shorter spell I would work on my game.
“So, at the moment there is really a nice balance there between the golf game and my job, I guess, and my family life when I am at home.”
