Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Danny Willett

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: April 10, 2026

Discover the career path of Danny Willett, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Danny Willett is an English professional golfer notable for winning the 2016 Masters Tournament. This victory marked his first major championship, making him only the second Englishman to win the Masters and the first European in 17 years to achieve the win at Augusta National. He primarily plays on the European Tour.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1996: Nick Faldo wins Masters

In 1996, Nick Faldo wins Masters, 20 years before Willett's win in 2016.

2006: Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year

In 2006, Danny Willett was named the Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year during his time at Jacksonville State University (JSU) in Alabama.

2007: OVC Championship Medallist Honors

In 2007, Danny Willett won medallist honors at the OVC Championship while at Jacksonville State University. He was also a first-team All-OVC performer and a member of the OVC's All-Tournament Team in both seasons.

2007: English Amateur Championship Win and Walker Cup Competition

In 2007, as an amateur and member of Rotherham Golf Club (RGC), Danny Willett won the English Amateur Championship. He also competed in the 2007 Walker Cup at Royal County Down.

March 2008: Ranked Number One Amateur

In March 2008, Danny Willett achieved the number one ranking as an amateur golfer in the world.

May 2008: Turned Professional

In May 2008, Danny Willett transitioned to professional golf.

2009: Earned European Tour Card

In 2009, Danny Willett earned his European Tour card through qualifying school. He finished 58th in the inaugural Race to Dubai with eight top-10s.

2010: BMW PGA Championship and World Ranking

In 2010, Danny Willett challenged at the BMW PGA Championship, taking the first-round lead before finishing fifth and earning 190,800 euros. Following this, he entered the top 100 of the Official World Golf Ranking and finished the season ranked 23rd on the Order of Merit.

June 2012: First European Tour Victory

In June 2012, Danny Willett achieved his first victory on the European Tour at the BMW International Open in Cologne, defeating Marcus Fraser in a playoff. He also had a second place at the Omega European Masters and a third place at the Maybank Malaysian Open, finishing 23rd at the final Order of Merit.

2013: Established European Tour Player

In 2013, Danny Willett established himself as one of the leading European players in the European Tour.

December 2014: Nedbank Golf Challenge Win

In December 2014, Danny Willett won the Nedbank Golf Challenge in Sun City, South Africa.

2014: Established European Tour Player

In 2014, Danny Willett established himself as one of the leading European players in the European Tour.

May 2015: PGA Tour Temporary Membership

In May 2015, Danny Willett earned a special temporary membership on the PGA Tour for the remainder of the 2015 season with a third place at the WGC-Cadillac Match Play.

July 2015: Omega European Masters Victory

In July 2015, Danny Willett won his third European Tour title with a victory at the Omega European Masters. He declined to take PGA Tour membership for the 2015–16 season, despite qualifying.

2015: Continued Success on the European Tour

In 2015, Danny Willett continued his success on the European Tour, collecting seven top-ten finishes and ending the year in 25th place in The Race to Dubai.

2015: 2015 Open Championship Performance

In 2015, Danny Willett was one stroke off the lead at the Open Championship through 36 holes. He finished in a tie for sixth at the Old Course at St Andrews, which was his best finish in a major at the time.

April 2016: Masters Tournament Win

In April 2016, Danny Willett won his first major championship at the 2016 Masters Tournament. He became the second Englishman to achieve this feat and the first European in 17 years to win at Augusta National.

2016: Successful Season and Ryder Cup Selection

In 2016, Danny Willett had a successful season, winning the Dubai Desert Classic and securing a second place at the Italian Open and a third place at the BMW PGA Championship. This led to his automatic selection for the 2016 Ryder Cup.

2016: Masters Tournament Win and PGA Tour Membership

In 2016, Danny Willett won the Masters Tournament at Augusta National, shooting a 67 in the final round. He became the first British player to win the Masters in 20 years and subsequently accepted PGA Tour membership, rising to 9th in the Official World Golf Ranking.

November 2018: DP World Tour Championship Victory

In November 2018, Danny Willett won the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, a Rolex Series event, earning $1,333,330. This marked a significant improvement after a challenging start to the season.

2019: PGA Tour Top-10 Finish

In 2019, Danny Willett recorded one top-10 finish on the PGA Tour with a tied-fourth place at the Rocket Mortgage Classic during the shortened 2019–20 season.