Danny Willett
Encyclopedia
Daniel John Willett is an English professional golfer
.
Willett was born in Sheffield
, England
. As an amateur, he won the English Amateur
Championship in 2007 and competed in the 2007 Walker Cup
at Royal County Down. In March 2008 he became the number one ranked amateur in the world.
Willett also played two seasons for Jacksonville State University
in the U.S. During his time with at JSU, he was the 2006 Ohio Valley Conference
Freshman of the Year and won medalist honors at the 2007 OVC Championship. He was a first-team All-OVC performer and a member of the OVC's All-Tournament Team in both seasons.
Willett turned professional in May 2008, and earned his European Tour card for the 2009 season coming through qualifying school
. Following a successful 2009, finishing 58th in the inaugural Race to Dubai with 8 top-10s, Willett challenged at the 2010 BMW PGA Championship, taking the first round lead before falling off the pace and finishing outright fifth, winning 190,800 euro. Following this performance, Willett moved into the top 100 of the Official World Golf Rankings
for the first time. He finished the 2010 season ranked 23rd on the Order of Merit.
Professional golfer
In golf the distinction between amateurs and professionals is rigorously maintained. An amateur who breaches the rules of amateur status may lose his or her amateur status. A golfer who has lost his or her amateur status may not play in amateur competitions until amateur status has been reinstated;...
.
Willett was born in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. As an amateur, he won the English Amateur
English Amateur
The English Amateur is the national amateur match play golf championship of England. It has been played annually since 1925 and is organized by the English Golf Union....
Championship in 2007 and competed in the 2007 Walker Cup
2007 Walker Cup
The 41st Walker Cup Match was held between September 8 and September 9, 2007 at the Royal County Down Golf Club in Newcastle, County Down, Northern Ireland. Team United States won 12½ to 11½. The United States won by the same score in 2005.-Format:...
at Royal County Down. In March 2008 he became the number one ranked amateur in the world.
Willett also played two seasons for Jacksonville State University
Jacksonville State University
Jacksonville State University is a regional public coeducational university located in Jacksonville, Alabama, USA. Founded in 1883, Jacksonville State offers programs of study in four academic units leading to Bachelor's, Master's, and Education Specialist degrees, in addition to continuing and...
in the U.S. During his time with at JSU, he was the 2006 Ohio Valley Conference
Ohio Valley Conference
The Ohio Valley Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the midwestern and southeastern United States. It participates in Division I of the NCAA; the conference's football programs compete in the Football Championship Subdivision , the lower of two levels of Division I...
Freshman of the Year and won medalist honors at the 2007 OVC Championship. He was a first-team All-OVC performer and a member of the OVC's All-Tournament Team in both seasons.
Willett turned professional in May 2008, and earned his European Tour card for the 2009 season coming through qualifying school
Qualifying school
In professional golf the term qualifying school is used for the annual qualifying tournaments for leading golf tours such as the U.S. based PGA and LPGA Tours and the European Tour. A fixed number of players in the event win membership of the tour for the following season, otherwise known as a...
. Following a successful 2009, finishing 58th in the inaugural Race to Dubai with 8 top-10s, Willett challenged at the 2010 BMW PGA Championship, taking the first round lead before falling off the pace and finishing outright fifth, winning 190,800 euro. Following this performance, Willett moved into the top 100 of the Official World Golf Rankings
Official World Golf Rankings
The Official World Golf Ranking is a system for rating the performance level of male professional golfers...
for the first time. He finished the 2010 season ranked 23rd on the Order of Merit.
Amateur wins (4)
- 2007 Yorkshire Amateur, English AmateurEnglish AmateurThe English Amateur is the national amateur match play golf championship of England. It has been played annually since 1925 and is organized by the English Golf Union....
- 2008 Australian Amateur Stroke Play Championship, Spanish Amateur Open Championship
Team appearances
Amateur- Walker CupWalker CupThe Walker Cup is a golf trophy contested biennially in odd numbered years between teams comprising the leading amateur golfers of the United States and Great Britain and Ireland...
(representing Great Britain & Ireland): 20072007 Walker CupThe 41st Walker Cup Match was held between September 8 and September 9, 2007 at the Royal County Down Golf Club in Newcastle, County Down, Northern Ireland. Team United States won 12½ to 11½. The United States won by the same score in 2005.-Format:...