Dubai, UAE ….
It has been more than two years since Danny Willett captured the hearts of the golfing world in winning the Masters at Augusta National.
In being fitted with the famed Augusta members green jacket, Willett rose to No. 11 in the world but in battling back injury and also after missing a fourth cut in a row at this year’s BMW PGA Championship, the affable Englishman had plunged to No. 462nd in the rankings.
Now after a strong seventh place finish in the recent Turkish Airlines Open, Willett finds himself tied for the lead with reigning Masters Champion, Patrick Reed heading to the closing day of the season-ending DP World Tour Championship here in Dubai.
It was while competing in Turkey, Willett joked that he likened himself to Humpty Dumpty the cartoon character who keeps falling off the wall but goes about mending his injuries to again proudly perch himself back atop of the wall.
Danny Willett and back where he belongs with a packed audience loving his golf. (Photo – European Tour)
And now as the 31-year old also looks to win for a second time in his career in Dubai, he’s revealed how he battled his own ‘Groundhog Day’ to get back where he is now in Dubai tied at 14-under atop of the Earth Course leader-board.
“I don’t think tomorrow (Sunday) could be a bad day whatever happens, or could even compare to some of the bad days I’ve had,” he said.
“It is just very pleasing to see results out here and even at home when I practice I can see what is potentially around the corner.”
Willett singled out the 2017 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow in suburban Charlotte as his ‘Groundhog Day’ experience.
“I was in a very, very dark place,” said Willett.
“There was no light coming through the trees. Just a big f***—off stump in front of my ball. I was despising golf, because it was like Groundhog Day – turn up, be in pain and repeat.
“I met up Foles (coach Sean Foley) that week and I was pretty low but that from day onwards we’ve been on a good path and elongating a career that would have been disappointing if it had ended after five years because of injury.
“We didn’t set any golf goals, just if that I could finish this season healthier and fitter than I started it we would be somewhere near. That’s exactly what we’ve done. I’ve played six tournaments in the last seven weeks and the body has never felt better. But I’m not going to lie, it would be an amazing thing to win here.”
Willett now finds himself in the last group of the last event of the 2018 European Tour season.
Ahead is the prospect of a sixth pro career victory and a whopping £1m first prize.
But Willett won’t have all his own way with Reed also keen to end his season on a high and Willett’s fellow Englishman, Lee Westwood and, despite admitting he was feeling ‘grotty’, producing the lowest round of the day, a seven-under par 65 to be in a group sharing fourth place on 12-under par and just two behind the Masters leading duo.
It was 10-years ago Westwood captured the very first DP World Tour Championship and now after ending a four-year drought to win last week’s Nedbank Challenge, he’s well-placed to also win back-to-back for only a fourth time in his career.
“It’s easy to pull the emotions down but it’s run me down a little bit more than I anticipated.,” he said.
“I’m feeling a bit sort of out of energy and I’ve got a cold and you know, feel a bit sort of low body-wise, not emotional-wise or enthusiasm-wise. So, I’m feeling a bit grotty.
“I’m just pleased I shot 65 and got myself in there and closer to the leaders, with the conditions as they are and if the wind stays up, then they may not get too far away from front of me, but I was 5-under and the lead was 11, was it, so I was six behind and now I’m tied.
“It’s a big improvement and gives me a chance tomorrow.”
