Dubai: A jubilant Danny Willett said his Omega Dubai Desert Classic win on Sunday was one of the gutsiest performances of his career.
The Englishman sank a birdie from 12-foot on the 18th hole to finish one stroke clear of Andy Sullivan and Rafael Cabrera-Bello at 19-under par at the Majlis course.
After Sullivan and Cabrera-Bello birdied the 18th to go 18-under, it looked as if the tournament was heading for a three-way play-off. Willett held his nerve at the end to win his fourth European Tour title, presented to him by Shaikh Mansour Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
With this win, the 28-year-old could move into the top 15 of the world rankings from 20th. “It was brilliant, in Switzerland I only needed to make a tap in,” he said of his last win at the Omega European Masters in July 2015. “And in the Nedbank [2014] I had a four shot lead. Obviously the playoff win years ago [BMW International Open 2012] was a bit different.
“But this one today just showed some real guts. I played some good golf but Raf and Sully just didn’t go away.
“On the last, me and my caddie Johnny read it, found a good line and he said ‘just keep your head down and hit it’. It wasn’t the easiest putt on that green and I had to keep going all day to keep off Sully and Raf, so I’m just delighted.”
Willett said the victory set him up well for the season, and gave him a headstart professionally ahead of what will be a hectic year for his private life with his wife Nicole expecting their first child in March.
“I chose to skip Qatar last week and spent some time back home with Nic to makes sure she’s OK and get some practice in. I had a good week for it back home but sometimes it doesn’t quite carry forward, so it was nice to come here and the feeling stayed strong all week.
“I did some good work while I was off and I wanted to get things nailed on for a good push ahead of Nic giving birth. I’m delighted and can’t think of a better way to start the season.”
Off the golf course, 2016 may hold some big challenges for the father-to-be, but he has to fit all that in around his career as well. With this win, he may be in even more demand what with the Olympics and Ryder Cup fast approaching.
“I try not to think about it but they are two massive goals of mine. I’ll take it day-by-day, week-by-week and hopefully come August I’ll be in Rio, and in September I’ll be with Clarkey [European Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke] in Hazeltine.”