Danny Willett wins 2016 Masters Tournament
JORDAN SPIETH GAVE DANNY WILLETT THE GREEN JACKET TWICE SUNDAY.
The first time came on the 12th hole, when Spieth carded a quadruple-bogey 7 to fall from 5- to 1-under and out of the Masters lead. The second time came when Spieth, the defending champion, slipped the jacket onto Willett’s shoulders in the presentation ceremony following the tournament.
Willett, a 28-year-old Englishman who hadn’t won outside the PGA European Tour until Sunday, shot a bogey-free 67 to win the 80th Masters at 5-under for the week. He’s the first Brit to win the tournament since Nick Faldo in 1996, which also is the last time someone suffered as shocking a stumble as Spieth.
That year it was Greg Norman, who dropped a six-shot lead on the final day. Spieth didn’t give away as many strokes, but he gave them away faster. The 22-year-old Texan led by five shots thanks to four consecutive birdies on Nos. 6, 7, 8 and 9. However, he bogeyed Nos. 10 and 11 before stepping to No. 12 tee. His tee shot there went into the creek in front of the green, as did his next shot. The third shot found the bunker behind the green.
Willett saw Spieth’s number on the large Masters scoreboard change from a red 5 to a red 1 as he walked off the 15th green at 4-under par.
“I was waiting for someone to, as a little joke, to put a 7 back up there,” Willett said. “It was one of those things, you know, that hole will do it. I actually heard everyone, you know, grunting and moaning or whatever they do to the scoreboard when the scores go up. He obviously had a terrible run, 10, 11, 12, which basically put it right back in anyone’s hands. It’s just one of them unfortunate things that happened to Jordan which obviously opened it right up.”
Spieth ended up tied for second with Lee Westwood at 2-under.
“At one point I told (his caddy), I said, ‘Buddy, it seems like we’re collapsing,’ ” Spieth said. “I can’t imagine that was fun for anyone to experience, other than maybe Danny’s team. And those who are fans of him. Boy, you wonder about not only just the tee shot on 12, but why can’t you just control the second shot, you know, and make 5 at worse, and you’re still tied for the lead.
“Big picture, this one will hurt. It will take a while.”
Irmo’s Dustin Johnson was one of three players tied for fourth, joining Paul Casey and J.B. Holmes at 1-under for the tournament. Johnson was 3-under coming off the 16th green and had a chance to catch Willett, but he double-bogeyed No. 17.
Willett, the son of a preacher and a math teacher, said throughout the lead-up to the Masters that there was a chance he wouldn’t play in the tournament because his first child was due on April 10. Zachariah James Willett was born via c-section March 29, and Willett became the final player to register for this year’s Masters.
“It’s just been the most ridiculously awesome 12 days I guess,” Willett said. “Words can’t describe what I’m feeling right now, but words definitely can’t describe how I was feeling last Tuesday when you get to hold, you know, something that me and my wife have made. It’s just been incredibly surreal.”
Willett’s wife, Nicole, and their son stayed home in Rotherham, England, and he connected with her briefly on Facetime from an Augusta National cabin when it became clear Spieth would not birdie No. 17 and had no chance to catch him.
“She said, ‘Well done,’ ” Willett said. “The line was a bit crackly. I’ll obviously call her after this if she’s still awake. I’m sure they will be. I guess you just – I’ve got massive thanks for everything that she does for me. You know, take this little green jacket back for her.”
Willett, who entered Sunday tied for fifth, will receive a check for $1.8 million for the win. Spieth and Westwood will each receive $880,000 for their second-place tie. Spieth did earn the new champion’s respect for the way he handled Sunday.
“Today what happened was just a bad beat. Them things happen in golf,” Willett said. “He said, ‘Really well played, awesome play today.’ He’s a class act to be able to hold face and stuff as he did, obviously hurting like I imagine he would be, just shows the character of the guy that you’re going to have up and around the world No. 1 spot for the next many, many years. Fortunately enough, I’m going to be able to be in that category and playing alongside him.”
This story was originally published April 10, 2016 at 6:58 PM with the headline "Danny Willett wins 2016 Masters Tournament."