Confidence is not something likely to be found wanting in Danny Willett at this week’s WGC- Bridgestone Invitational.
The Englishman is up to a career-high of 24th on the Official World Golf Ranking after an impressive July in which he finished tied sixth in The Open Championship at St Andrews and claimed his second European Tour title of the 2015 season in the Omega European Masters.
Having also impressed in the two previous World Golf Championship events this year, finishing tied 12th in the WGC – Cadillac Championship and third in the WGC-Cadillac Match Play, Willett is now hoping to continue his superb run of form with another strong showing on American soil.
With the injured Rory McIlroy now in his sights at the top of The Race to Dubai, second placed Willett can dislodge the absent Northern Irishman with a top four finish at Firestone Country Club.
And McIlroy’s former Walker Cup teammate is looking forward to furthering his burgeoning reputation among golf’s elite, with the final Major of 2015, the US PGA Championship, to follow next week.
“These WGC events are the next step up for me,” said Willett. “It’s great to come across to these events in America and test yourself and see how good you are over here. These are the events you need to start performing in. You look at guys who have succeeded in both Europe and America – Rory, Lee, Justin – they’ve done well on both sides of the pond.
“I’ve played well in the two WGC events so far this year, and hopefully I can do well again this week.”
Now free of the back injury which affected his form in 2013, the season after he made his breakthrough at the BMW International Open, the former World Amateur Number One
After beginning his 2015 campaign in style with victory in the lucrative Nedbank Golf Challenge, the 27 year old has not looked back. He was in second place going into the third round of The Open Championship last month, eventually finishing tied sixth – his best showing in one of golf’s four Major Championships.
Buoyed by that performance, he went to Switzerland the following week where he held off the challenge of fellow Sheffield native Matt Fitzpatrick to win the Omega European Masters – a victory which means his confidence is at an all-time high heading to Akron, Ohio.
“My form has been really good this year,” he said “The injury that really hindered me a couple of years back has settled down, and it shows that when I can train and practise I can achieve good things. For me it is nice to see those things paying off.
“I played well in The Open and then went to Switzerland in good spirits. I took the family to have a nice week as my mum and dad have never been. I’ve always enjoyed up there. It was my seventh straight time and it is an event The European Tour needs as it is a very good event. To come out on top makes it even more special.”
It may be three years since Willett made his debut, and only appearance to date, in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, but the King of the Mountains returns with both form and confidence in his favour this week.
