Masters champion Danny Willett has brushed aside any security fears in travelling with his young family to compete in this week’s Turkish Airlines Open in Antalya.
The current World No. 10 Willett finds himself the highest world ranked player contesting this week’s $US 7m event and the opening tournament of the European Tour’s three-tournament Final Series.
However the event has been rocked firstly with the withdrawal some time ago by Tiger Woods but more recently by the decision of many Europe’s leading stars including World No. 2 Rory McIlroy along with World No. 4 and current Race to Dubai money list leader, Henrik Stenson not to travel to Turkey.
USA Ryder Cup winning hero, Patrick Reed and the current World No. 8 has also elected not to compete this week.
Danny Willett and caddy Johathon Smart familiarising themselves with this weeks Turkish Airlines host venue at Antalya. (Photo – thanks to www.europeantour.com)
In fact, 13 of the top-18 on the Race to Dubai have withdrawn including Hazeltine competitors in Spain’s Rafa Cabrera-Bello (Sixth on the Race to Dubai), England’s Chris Woods (8th), Germany’s Martin Kaymer (11th), Spain’s Sergio Garcia (16th) and Belgium’s Thomas Pieters (18th).
As well, Sweden’s Alex Noren, and a three-time Tour winner this year and currently fourth on the Race to Dubai is a non-starter.
Others who qualified for the Turkish event but have declined to travel to the region include Ryder Cup rookie Matthew Fitzpatrick of England (23rd on the Race to Dubai), Ireland’s Shane Lowry (24th), Scotland’s Russell Knox (27th), South African and Masters winner Charl Schwartzel (30th) and Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell (47th).
“I had no fears coming here as I have been in contact with Keith Pelley (CEO, European Tour) and Henrik (Stenson), in his role on the Players Committee, along with my manager, Chubby (Andrew Chandler, Head International Sports Management),” said Willett.
“It’s one of those things where I committed myself to this tournament quite early on, so I was always going to play.
“Of course, there is a lot of things at risk but if the officials involved say it’s okay then we were always going to come down here to Turkey.
“Basically, I was only going to pull out if the tournament was not going to go ahead.
“We’re down here now and there is no sign of anything and in and around here everything is lovely, and hopefully it stays that way.”
