Major winners aren't 'too bothered what some people think', says Danny Willett

Paul Lawrie isn’t alone in not receiving the full credit he deserved for winning a major, especially in the US. Danny Willett joined that club when he claimed a Green Jacket following Jordan Spieth’s last-day collapse in the 2016 Masters.

Danny Willett pictured during last week's Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, where he closed with a 68 to finish in the top-20 behind fellow Englishman Tyrrell Hatton. Picture: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images.

But, while others have their own opinions, Willett is happy to let the record books speak for themselves and he believes Lawrie will feel exactly the same when the 1999 Open and Jean Van de Velde’s 72nd-hole disaster at Carnoustie comes up in conversation.

“That is obviously down to opinion,” the 33-year-old told The Scotsman in an exclusive interview in reply to being asked about the similarities between him and Lawrie as major winners. “The amount of stuff you sign and the amount of fan mail you get probably suggests you do get the credit from people you don’t know.

“Whether or not you get your credit from your own peers, I still feel there are a lot of people who would eat their own arm to have a Green Jacket. I kind of know what you mean by asking that question.

Danny Willett poses with the trophy after his victory in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic at the Emirates Golf Club in 2016 - the same year he became a major winner in the Masters. Picture: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images.

“But, by the same token, when Paul cracks open a bottle of red at Christmas and looks across at the replica Claret Jug he’s got at home, I don’t think he will be too bothered what some people think.

“And that’s the same for me. Every time I go back to Augusta, where I can go for the rest of my life, it’s a nice feeling when you pop on the Green Jacket and go and have lunch in the Champions’ Locker Room.

“Each week someone is going to win and, fortunately for myself Paul, we were able to win on the highest stage at that time. I gave myself enough credit for that and, as long as you do that, then I think that’s all that really matters.”

Helped by his win at Augusta National, Willett played in the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine, where Lawrie was one of Darren Clarke’s vice captains, but suffered a torrid week in Minnesota. Having seen his debut was made difficult following untimely comments from his brother, Peter, in an article, he lost all three of his matches in a 17-11 defeat for Europe.

Nearly six-and-a-half years on, Willett is hoping this September’s rescheduled clash at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin will be his chance to make amends for that bitter disappointment.

“It would be nice to get there and go there when I am playing well,” said the seven-time European Tour winner, the most recent of those successes in the 2019 BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth having provided him with a flying start in the qualifying race for spots on Padraig Harrington’s team.

“When I was there in ‘16, I’d had a bit of a slump towards the end of the year. I was also exhausted, having travelled all around the world playing golf. I wasn’t playing very well, my body wasn’t cooperating fully and it was just a bit of a downer of a week for me after that year had been so magical.

“It would have been nice to go there playing great golf and feeling in high spirits, but, unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.

“It would be nice to play five or six more of them. I just have to take care of my own business. I was probably one of the people who were quite fortunate when the points were frozen (due to the 2020 campaign being badly hit by the Covid-19 pandemic before restarting at the start of the year).

“We just have to keep grinding away and see if we can be there or thereabouts come September and also be playing well then. It’s the day-to-day stuff that gets us our end goals. I’ve always worked on trying to tick my boxes from day to day and, fingers crossed, the rest of it will fall into place.

“I think if you have the Ryder Cup as a main goal, it becomes a tricky one. I think you should be having a goal for the day, a goal for the week and go from there.

“I believe I am good enough at this game and it’s about keeping things ticking over nicely, doing my work. If I do that, then I see no reason why there can’t be many more of these I play in.”

Joining the likes of Stephen Gallacher as a two-time winner of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic would certainly be a boost for the next edition as Willett bids to repeat his 2016 success over the Majlis Course at Emirates Golf Club this week.

“I have only been on tour for 11 years, but it has always been one of the events that attracts the top players,” he said of the tournament that calls itself the ‘Major of the Middle East’ in the shadow of some of Dubai’s stunning skyscrapers.

“You look at the pictures of this golf course when it was first built and it was just this oasis in the middle of the desert but you look around it now and see how Dubai has grown as a place, which is great to see.

“There are some fantastic winners on that trophy. Lots of Americans have come over to play in this event and it really is a fantastic place. It is a fun golf course and it’s easy to see why so many guys have Dubai on their schedule because they enjoy being here so much.

“The golf course hasn’t changed much at all in the time I have played there and I’d say it has held its own in terms of still being a test.

“It’s not the longest golf course we play, but it makes for real entertainment. There’s a handful of good, solid, tough holes on the course and there’s a hell of a lot of chances as well.”

A message from the Editor:Thank you for reading this article. We're more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by coronavirus impacts our advertisers. If you haven't already, please consider supporting our trusted, fact-checked journalism by taking out a digital subscription.