Yorkshire-born Danny Willett picked up a sensational Masters victory in 2016, but his form has been up and down ever since.
He started this PGA Tour season with a runners-up medal, but can Willett win a tournament in 2023?
PGA Championship Wide Open This Year
Excitement is building for the upcoming PGA Championship, which will be the second major of the year. For those looking to wager a golf bet, Jon Rahm is the current 7/1 favourite to win in New York, while Rory McIlroy is priced at 9/1. The US PGA betting is wide open this year, but will we see an upset at Oak Hill Country Club?
Willett Looking to Build on Strong Fortinet Championship Showing
Willett started the 2022-23 PGA season in fine style. He was one of the players to regain PGA Tour privileges after joining LIV Golf, and the Sheffield star almost picked up a win in the first tournament of the campaign.
Willett held a one-shot lead on the final hole in the Fortinet Championship in California. However, Californian Max Homa hit a birdie to win the title at Silverado Country Club. It was a great way to start the new season, nonetheless.
Great week @THEPLAYERSChamp
Game moving in the right direction ?#theplayers pic.twitter.com/4mPbLiJuG6— Danny Willett (@Danny_Willett) March 13, 2023
Sensational Masters Win in 2016
Willett stunned the golfing world when he won the Masters Tournament back in 2016. It was a memorable event for the Englishman, as a strong finish saw him finish three strokes ahead of the likes of Jordan Spieth and Lee Westwood to get his hands on the trophy at Augusta.
He became the first British player to pick up a Masters victory in 20 years, with Nick Faldo winning back in 1996. After the famous victory, Willett accepted a PGA Tour membership and shot up to ninth place in the Official World Golf Ranking.
2016 proved to be the most successful season of his career to date. He won the Dubai Desert Classic, finished second in the Italian Open, and took third place at the BMW PGA Championship. His superb performances made him an automatic selection for Europe for the 2016 Ryder Cup, which the Europeans subsequently lost 17-11 to the USA in Minnesota.
A tough watch.
Danny Willett three-putt from here to give Max Homa his fifth PGA Tour title. pic.twitter.com/6jvWbB6fE5
— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) September 18, 2022
Can Willett Get Back to Those Dizzy Heights?
Seven years have now passed since Willett’s 2016 heroics, and he has never quite reached those heights since. However, Willett did win the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai in 2018 before securing a BMW PGA Championship triumph a year later.
Willett’s last tournament success came in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on the European Tour back in October 2021. The Rotherham-born ace, who now lives in the States, beat fellow Englishman Tyrrell Hatton and Swede Joakim Lagergren by 2 strokes to secure the competition win at St Andrews.
At just 35, time is still on Willett’s side, and the Yorkshireman certainly has the potential to claim more tournament wins on the grandest stage. Can he build on his second place at the Fortinet Championship at the start of the season and seal a tournament victory in 2023?
