Danny Willett hopes his fond memories of playing the 2022 Omega European Masters can inspire a positive run to the end of the DP World Tour season.
The Englishman, who won his third DP World Tour at the stunning Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club in 2015, has played in every edition of the tournament since his debut in 2009 and is one of five former champions in the field in the Swiss Alps.
Willett has since gone on to win a further five Tour titles, including his memorable success at The Masters Tournament in 2016, and following a few weeks off playing competitively is excited to be back in the mountains and on European soil.
Name a nicer backdrop in golf!! 😍🏔#OEM2022 pic.twitter.com/9Nl7RWEb9S
— Danny Willett (@Danny_Willett) August 24, 2022
“We’ve had a busy spell, just with how things have gone with injuries I have had to fit a few events in,” he said. “I have played quite nice, just not had the results. I finished 12th at Augusta, seventh a couple of weeks ago, top 20 at British Masters. A few good ones scattered in there.
“It is always nice to come back to a venue where you have good memories, and the game is pretty close.
“The family always come [here], it is always a fantastic week up in the mountains. I was fortunate to win in 2015 and get my plaque on the street. A real iconic venue and you’ll see that by the guys who come back year after year.
“This week you have Miguel (Angel Jimenez) – it must be his 30th year. A special place to come back to. People are always excited for what is a great, fun week.”
The 34-year-old carded a flawless five-under-par 65 as held off fellow Sheffield native Matt Fitzpatrick to win the title seven years ago, with both players subsequently going on to become Major Champions.
“It was a fantastic week (in 2015), I was in a rich vein of form end of 2014 into 15, 16,” said Willett, who won four titles between December 2014 and April 2016, when he won the Green Jacket at Augusta National Golf Club.
“I’ve always liked the golf course, and the battle with Fitzy (Matt Fitzpatrick), he won a couple of years after, and I was third. Similar games at the time and we were both able to have good weeks. It was a long time ago, a lot has happened since then, but every time we’ve been up here we have had a great week.”
Willett, who assumed hosting responsibilities for the Betfred British Masters for the second year running earlier this season, will be back playing in front of UK fans in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth next month and believes his game is in a good place to register some strong performances in his upcoming events.
“It's nice to be back on home soil, seeing family and friends. "I will go back to Napa after Wentworth and then defending at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship (in St Andrews). It’s always nice to be back in the UK, we miss it when we go. Just how the game has been over the last five years have had to travel a bit. It’s nice to then make the short trip up here.
“I have been based in America for the first six months, we’ve got three of the next six weeks on the DP World Tour, try to get some points up. See where we’re at towards the end of the season.”
