Danny Willett Bio
Daniel John Willett, known professionally as Danny Willett, is an English professional golfer who plays on the European Tour. Born on 3 October 1987 in Sheffield, Yorkshire, Willett rose from junior club golf to the highest levels of the professional game. In April 2016, he captured the Masters Tournament at Augusta National, becoming only the second Englishman to win the event and the first European in 17 years to claim the green jacket. Standing 5 ft 11 in tall and weighing roughly 183 pounds, he is recognized as one of the leading English players of his generation.
Early Life and Background
Willett was born in Sheffield, Yorkshire, the third of four sons. His father, Steve, served as a Church of England vicar, and his mother, Elisabet, worked as a teacher. In a 2016 interview with The Daily Telegraph, Willett recalled his introduction to golf, saying that he used to play a par-three course in the middle of a sheep field at Anglesey with his family. These early rounds on informal courses helped shape his love for the game.
As a young player, Willett was a member of Birley Wood Golf Club and later Rotherham Golf Club in South Yorkshire. His natural ability became evident during his teenage years, when he began competing in regional and national amateur events. He balanced his golf development with his education, eventually earning a golf scholarship at Jacksonville State University in Alabama.
Path to Professional Golf
Willett secured a golf scholarship at Jacksonville State University, where he played collegiate golf in the Ohio Valley Conference. During his time with the Gamecocks, he was named the 2006 Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year and won medallist honours at the 2007 OVC Championship. He was a first-team All-OVC performer and a member of the conference’s All-Tournament Team in both of his seasons, establishing himself as one of the top amateur players in the United States.
Returning to England, Willett joined Rotherham Golf Club and won the English Amateur Championship in 2007. Later that year, he represented Great Britain and Ireland in the Walker Cup at Royal County Down. In March 2008, he became the number-one-ranked amateur in the world. Rotherham Golf Club honoured his achievements by granting him life membership, paving the way for his transition to the professional ranks.
Danny Willett Career
Early Career (2008-2015)
Willett turned professional in May 2008 and earned his European Tour card for the 2009 season through qualifying school. His rookie year on the European Tour was strong; he finished 58th in the inaugural Race to Dubai with eight top-10 finishes. The following season, he challenged at the 2010 BMW PGA Championship, taking the first-round lead before eventually placing fifth, a result that pushed him into the top 100 of the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time. He closed 2010 ranked 23rd on the Order of Merit.
His first European Tour victory came in June 2012 at the BMW International Open in Cologne, where he defeated Marcus Fraser on the fourth extra hole of a sudden-death playoff. He added a second European Tour title at the 2015 Omega European Masters, winning by one stroke over Matt Fitzpatrick. In December 2014, he captured the Nedbank Golf Challenge in Sun City, South Africa, a result that helped him earn a special temporary PGA Tour membership. After a tied-sixth finish at the 2015 Open Championship at St Andrews, his best major result to that point, Willett was firmly established among Europe’s elite.
Masters Victory (2016)
Willett won his first major championship at the 2016 Masters Tournament at Augusta National, shooting a bogey-free final-round 67 to finish at five under par. Defending champion Jordan Spieth held a five-shot lead as he approached the 10th hole of the final round before suffering a quadruple-bogey seven at the par-3 12th. Willett became the first British player to win the Masters in 20 years, following Nick Faldo’s 1996 victory. Following the win, he accepted full PGA Tour membership and rose to ninth in the Official World Golf Ranking.
The 2016 season proved to be the most successful of Willett’s career. He added a fourth European Tour title at the Dubai Desert Classic in February and recorded top finishes at the Italian Open and BMW PGA Championship. His strong form earned him an automatic selection to the 2016 Ryder Cup team at Hazeltine, where he made his debut against the United States.
Post-Masters Years (2017-2021)
Willett struggled to replicate his 2016 form in the years that followed. He missed the cut at the 2017 Masters, becoming the first defending champion to do so since Mike Weir in 2004. A persistent back injury limited his schedule, and he ultimately lost his PGA Tour privileges after failing to make the required 15 starts in a season. By mid-2018, he had slipped to 462nd in the world rankings before rebounding with a win at the 2018 DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, a Rolex Series event.
In September 2019, Willett captured the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, the European Tour’s flagship event, returning him to the top 50 in the world. He added the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in October 2021, winning by two shots over Tyrrell Hatton and Joakim Lagergren. These victories signalled a return to competitive form after several difficult seasons.
Recent Years (2022-2025)
In 2022, Willett was among several players to regain PGA Tour privileges after golfers who had joined LIV Golf were removed from the FedEx Cup standings. At the Fortinet Championship, the opening event of the 2022-23 PGA Tour season, he held a one-shot lead on the final hole before three-putting for bogey, allowing Max Homa to chip in for birdie and steal the title. The near-miss highlighted both his resilience and the fine margins at the top level of professional golf.
Driving Style and Strengths
Willett is known for his composed temperament, accurate iron play, and reliable short game. His victories at venues such as Augusta National, Wentworth, and the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates reflect an ability to perform on varied course layouts. He has consistently credited his family and his long-time team for helping him manage the pressures of tournament golf.
Notable Events and Milestones
Willett’s career-defining moment remains his 2016 Masters victory, where he became the first Englishman to win the event since Nick Faldo in 1996. He is also a Ryder Cup participant, having represented Europe in 2016, and a Rolex Series winner thanks to his 2018 triumph in Dubai. His highest Official World Golf Ranking of ninth was achieved on 10 April 2016.
Danny Willett Career Wins
Across his professional career, Willett has recorded eight European Tour wins, including one that was co-sanctioned by the Sunshine Tour and another co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour. He has also captured one PGA Tour title and added further victories in high-profile invitationals. His win tally spans events in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, reflecting a global competitive footprint.
European Tour Highlights
Willett’s first European Tour victory came at the 2012 BMW International Open, where he defeated Marcus Fraser in a sudden-death playoff. His most recent European Tour victory at the time of writing came at the 2021 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. Other notable wins include the 2014 Nedbank Golf Challenge, the 2015 Omega European Masters, the 2016 Dubai Desert Classic, the 2018 DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, and the 2019 BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his European Tour titles, Willett has posted strong finishes in major championships, including a tied-sixth at the 2015 and 2019 Open Championships and a tied-12th at the 2019 U.S. Open. His best PGA Championship result was a tied-30th in 2014. He reached the top 10 of the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time in April 2016, following his Masters triumph.
Danny Willett Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Willett is the third of four sons born to Steve, a Church of England vicar, and Elisabet, a teacher. His upbringing in a sporting and faith-centred household shaped his disciplined approach to golf. He has credited his father, Steve, as the best sports psychologist he has known, highlighting the supportive role his family has played throughout his career. Willett is also a member of Lindrick Golf Club in Nottinghamshire, a club with a strong amateur pedigree.
Personal Life
Willett married Nicole Harris in 2013, and the couple reside in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, with additional ties to Orlando, Florida. Their first child, a son, was born in 2016, just a few days before his Masters victory. A second son was born in 2018. Willett is a supporter of Premier League football club Liverpool and continues to balance his time between England and the United States.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 season, Willett continues to split his playing schedule between the European Tour and selective PGA Tour starts. His pathway back to the game’s upper echelons has been built on consistency at marquee events such as the BMW PGA Championship and the DP World Tour Championship, both of which he has won. With his PGA Tour privileges restored, he has access to a fuller schedule of events in North America.
Willett’s primary goals for 2025 include contending in major championships and securing a return to the Ryder Cup fold, having last represented Europe in 2016. He has spoken openly about the lessons learned from his post-Masters struggles, and his recent form suggests he remains capable of competing at the highest level. A strong year could see him return to the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking.
With family support, improved health, and a clearer schedule, Willett enters 2025 motivated to add to his tally of eight European Tour wins. His experience on courses ranging from Augusta National to Wentworth provides a strong foundation, and his comeback narrative remains one of the more compelling stories in European golf.
