Danny Willett: Walker Cup loser to Masters winner

1. August 2005 – Boys Amateur Championship

In action as a 17-year-old at the Boys Amateur Championship at Hunstanton Golf Club, where he reached the quarter-finals.

2. September 2007 – The Walker Cup

Alongside Scots Lloyd Saltman and captain Colin Dalgleish at the 2007 Walker Cup at Royal County Down. Rory McIlroy was also in that GB&I team.

3. September 2007 – The Walker Cup

Willett celebrating a birdie putt in his singles match against Colt Knost. The Englishman only scored one point from four as GB&I fell to a narrow 12.5-11.5 loss against a US team which also included Rickie Fowler, Billy Horschel, Dustin Johnson, Chris Kirk and Webb Simpson.

4. March 2008 – Open de Andalucia

After reaching No.1 amateur in the world, Willett was invited to his first European Tour event, where he finished an impressive T19.

5. May 2008 – Spanish Open

Posing for the camera on his return to Spain six weeks later for the Spanish Open. He finished T10, helped by a stunning third round 64. Turned professional soon afterwards.

6. November 2008 – European Tour Q School

Secured his status on the European Tour for the 2009 season alongside Chris Wood in Catalunya.

7. January 2009 – Joburg Open

In his third European Tour event of the season, he secured his joint-best finish of his maiden campaign in South Africa at T4, three shots behind winner Anders Hansen. He also finished T4 at the Celtic Manor Wales Open in June.

8. September 2009 – Omega European Masters

Playing alongside his 2007 Walker Cup teammate McIlroy in the final round of the Omega European Masters, where he finished T23.

9. August 2010 – US PGA Championship

Made his major debut at Whistling Straits, but things didn’t go according to plan. He missed the cut with two rounds of 74.

10. October 2010 – Alfred Dunhill Links Championship

No wonder he was smiling. Willett finished T2 and scooped the biggest prize money in his career to date, collecting €386,695.

11. July 2011 – The Open Championship

On the first tee for his Open Championship debut at Royal St George’s in 2011. But, like his previous major appearance, it didn’t go according to plan. He failed to make it to the weekend with rounds of 69 and 75. He only just secured his European Tour status too, finishing 91st in the Race to Dubai after a poor season.

12. June 2012 – BMW International Open

The breakthrough European Tour win arrived in Cologne as Willett staved off the challenge of Marcus Fraser to win in a play-off. He had been leading by one heading into the final round.

13. July 2013 – The Open Championship

At the third time of asking in a major, the Englishman made it to the weekend. And it was an impressive showing at Muirfield, finishing T15.

14. August 2014 – US PGA Championship

In his second US PGA Championship appearance, he made the cut and went on to finish T30, but had been inside the top 20 heading into the final round.

15. December 2014 – Nedbank Golf Challenge

Willett started his 2015 season on fire, capturing his second European Tour title at the Nedbank Golf Challenge. He ran away with proceedings on the final day, finishing four shots clear of nearest challenger Ross Fisher. The win helped him to a year-end world ranking of No.50 – the first time he’d been in that bracket.

16. May 2015 – WGC-Cadillac Match Play

After finishing T12 in his first WGC event – the WGC-Cadillac Championship in March – Willett performed exceptionally well at TPC Harding Park. He was beaten by Gary Woodland in the semi-final but recovered to down Jim Furyk to finish third. Rose up to No.38 in the world.

17. July 2015 – The Open Championship

Another major step forward in Willett’s progression came at the Open, where in the third round he played in the final group alongside Dustin Johnson, who was one shot ahead of him. However, Willett faded at St Andrews with rounds of 72 and 70 to finish T6.

18. July 2015 – Omega European Masters

Just a week after his Open experience, he was in the winner’s circle again in Crans Montana, edging out Matt Fitzpatrick for his third European Tour title. In those two weeks, he’d risen from world No.39 to No.24.

19. February 2016 – Omega Dubai Desert Classic

After finishing the 2015 season second in the Race to Dubai standings following Rory McIlroy’s reprieve of being allowed to play in fewer events, Willett began the 2016 in style with his fourth European Tour title in Dubai. He finished on 19-under-par, one shot clear of Rafa Cabrera-Bello and Andy Sullivan. Up to world No.13.

20. April 2016 – The Masters

Third place at the WGC-Cadillac Championship in March was a sign of things to come for Willett, who capitalised on Jordan Spieth’s meltdown to set the clubhouse lead at The Masters following a flawless five-under-par final round.

21. April 2016 – The Masters

Spieth couldn’t recover and that was it, Willett became the first Brit to win The Masters since Sir Nick Faldo 1996. He said: “It’s been crazy. Words can’t describe it. This is just a different league. It’s going to take a while to sink in.” He also moved inside the world top ten for the first time.

22. April 2016 – The Masters

So there you have it. Danny Willett: from Walker Cup loser to Masters champion.

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Danny Willett :: More majors in the offing?

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