After his 2016 Masters win Danny Willett went on an alcohol-fuelled run at 7am that felt like he was “floating on a cloud”. The Brit will be hoping for another victory as he returns to Augusta, Georgia, this week.
Willett, 37, defeated reigning champion Jordan Spieth and became the first Englishman in 20 years to win the tournament. Footage of him celebrating with his caddie went viral, but this was only the start of Willett’s victory festivities.
He explained: “After the jacket presentation in the Butler Cabin, they take the champion in there and meet all the members who have helped run the event and their wives. The chairman, Mr Payne, made a nice speech – it is fantastic the tradition that is in and around Augusta.”
After two hours of interviews, Willett said it had been a “long, tiring day” but he returned at 11pm to 200 “drunk, screaming Northerners”. He added: “At the beginning of the week none of us really thought that on Sunday night we would all be getting drunk together with the Green Jacket on. It was mental, just awesome.”
He told the Life on Tour podcast that he then “got up at 7am and went for a run”. “I was still drunk, I was intoxicated, but I had so much adrenaline. It was like I was floating on a cloud, to be honest. It was the easiest run I’ve ever done.”
A year after his victory, Willett said that not a day goes by when he doesn’t think about winning the Masters. He said: “I think about nearly every shot that week. I remember how I felt at each point throughout the week. It’s amazing how you get the same feelings on weeks when you win or do well.”
In a blog post for the European Tour website, Willett explained: “What’s funny is that we, as golfers, spend so much time practising for those moments, working on our swings, those chip shots, pressure putts, how to deal with being in contention mentally but no one ever really prepares you for what happens next, after you achieve greatness like that.”
However, he said he is able to look back on his win and be thankful for everything it has given him, despite the fact it’s “not always easier dealing with the aftermath”.
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