DUBAI // Danny Willett stood up to a sizeable test of his nerve and a late charge from his rivals, sealed the Omega Dubai Desert Classic title and, with it, a pretty nice boost to his bank balance, too.
But having secured a one-shot victory courtesy of a 15-footer for birdie on the final hole at Emirates Golf Club on Sunday, which in turn captured a cheque for €402,670 (Dh1.65 million), the Englishman was most pleased with another affirmation of his obvious talent.
In fact, he quickly filed the whole experience under the ‘priceless’ tag.
“Can’t buy that feeling,” said Willett, sitting beside the Coffee Pot trophy. “It’s something that you can’t pay for in life; you’ve got to earn it. Obviously coming down the last with the whole situation going on, it’s just nice to know I can dig deep there and produce what I can.”
Photo gallery: Rory McIlroy falls short as Danny Willett wins Dubai Desert Classic
He produced for most of the day. Having begun with a one-shot lead, Willett stayed out in front for the majority, twice opening up a three-stroke advantage. But Andy Sullivan, playing in the group in front, nailed a putt for birdie on the par-5 18th and draw level, while Willett’s playing partner Rafa Cabrera-Bello then found the green with his long second and watched his eagle attempt drift only narrowly by.
By the time Willett stood over a birdie putt of his own, all three sat on 18 under-par. Willett, 28, showed commendable courage, though, and rolled it in for the fourth European Tour victory of his career. Clutch.
“It was alright, it was a nice line and pretty quick,” he said. “But you still have to hit it.”
With it, Willett hit the jackpot. It represents his third win since the beginning of last season, and reinforces the belief that he is fast becoming one of the leading lights on the European Tour. It proves he can close, as well, a welcome addition to the armoury in what is Ryder Cup year.
“You’d always like to win by five or six, but when you win in that fashion it does feel a little bit extra special,” he said. “When the pressure’s on, being able to produce the goods. It’s a relatively daunting last hole, and needing a four or a five to win, so I’m just delighted how I dug and found it.”
Typically gracious in defeat, Sullivan could only praise his compatriot’s fortitude.
“I mean, fair play to Dan, holing that putt – that was a tough putt,” he said. “But Dan is a quality player and you expect him to step up. And he did.”
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Much to his joy, Willett has taken a few steps towards qualifying for this summer’s Olympics and then Hazeltine for the Ryder Cup in September. It will also provide a hefty boost in the Race to Dubai, even this early in 2016.
Willett is perhaps more aware of that than most, since he finished second to Rory McIlroy in the season-long contest last year.
“Any year where you can be in and around the top 10 all year and give yourself a chance come the Final Series to win the Order of Merit is brilliant,” he said. “But I’ve certainly put myself nicely up there to fight for the top again.
“It would be good. There can only be one winner every year. It just shows the consistency that you’ve done all throughout the year. Hopefully we can get back up somewhere near.”
That ‘we’ references Team Willett, which is set to swell in the not-too-distant future, with Willett’s wife Nicole expected to give birth to the couple’s first child in late March, early April.
The soon-to-be doting parents will see each other again Monday, with the dad-to-be cradling a shiny new addition, in the Coffee Pot trophy. Having most probably moved into the world’s top 15 with the victory, he will hope to capture a few more come trinkets in the succeeding weeks before the Masters.
But for the moment, at least, the green jacket does not constitute the culmination of the Big Build-Up.
“Home tonight, play Malaysia, another week off, Doral, Valspar, another week off, match play,” Willett said, reeling off his immediate schedule. “And then it’s baby time.”
jmcauley@thenational.ae
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