At A Glance: Who is Danny Willett?

Danny Willett (Reuters)
Danny Willett (Reuters)

Danny Willett came out of nowhere to win the Masters as defending champion Jordan Spieth bottled the back nine and dropped out of contention.

But who is Willett and where did he come from to win the green jacket?

Willett is ranked 12th in world golf, but was a real sleeper pick to win the Masters. The Sheffield-born golfer wasn't near anyone's picks but became the first Briton to win the Masters for 20 years.

Willett's wife Nicole was due with the couple's first child on April 10 and made it clear to reporters he wouldn't be playing at Augusta National if his little boy hadn't arrived.

"I'm looking forward to Augusta, if I get to go play," Willett told reporters. "Obviously Nic's due that week, so all depends on how our little man is fairing, if he fancies coming out early on, it would be great, but if not, I won't be playing."

Thankfully for Danny, his baby boy Zachariah was born early last week.

Maybe we should have seen this coming after Willett was ranked the number one amateur in the world in 2008. He turned professional in May of that year and earned his European Tour card for the 2009 season through qualifying school.

Willett grew up playing golf dealing with more than just bunkers and water hazards. The Yorkshire golfer told the Daily Telegraph he used to play on a nearby farm.

"We used to go to Anglesey to play a par three course in the middle of a sheep field," he said. "You skip it forward 17 years and you've got an invite to the Masters. It's just a bit crazy really."

Willett is the third of four sons, and it was his two older brothers who introduced him to the sport. He told the Mail on Sunday that he took a liking to golf because it was the only game he could beat them at growing up.

"I had to find some sport that I could beat them in. It's funny when golf gets its hooks into you. I would practice for hours on my own. It takes over your childhood."

His brother Matthew has even caddied for him during pro events.

Willett's dog gets a shout out on his Twitter profile as he writes he's a "father to Zachariah and Spike Willett."

He even joked that his pug wished him a happy Father's Day

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