Danny Willett tees it up at the D+D Real Czech Masters for the first time since 2014 this week and it is safe to say that a lot has changed for the Englishman in four years.
The first time he arrived at Albatross Golf Resort, he had one European Tour win to his name and was building himself a reputation as one of the most consistent players around.
The 2015 season brought two further wins and a second-place finish in the Race to Dubai Rankings presented by Rolex, and even more glory was to come in 2016.
Willett won the Dubai Desert Classic early in the season and then, just days after the birth of his first son, he claimed a maiden Major Championship at the Masters Tournament and was thrust into golfing superstardom.
Injuries halted his progress in 2017 as he finished 96th on the Race to Dubai, and off the course he and wife Nicole celebrated the arrival of a second son in December.
The 30 year old made just one of his first seven cuts in 2018 but with his injury problems clearing up and the work done with new coach Sean Foley starting to bed in, recent weeks have been good to Willett.
His first top ten of the season came in a Rolex Series event at the Italian Open and further top 20s followed at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open hosted by the Rory Foundation and Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open before a top 25 at the Open Championship.
With that recent run of form Willett has a spring back in his step and he is feeling good as he looks for European Tour win number six.
“I’ve been busy since the last time I came here, alright,” he said. “I’ve had two little boys since last being here and since winning the Masters things changed quite a lot around my golf.
“I’ve had a tough time with injury the last couple of years, withdrawing from a lot of tournaments and with a lot of time off. So it was a struggle for 18 months or two years.
I’ve started to enjoy golf again, my body is pretty much back to where it was and I’m really exblockquoted to be back in Europe - Danny Willett
“But I’ve started seeing Sean Foley as my coach a year ago and things have turned around a little. I’ve started to enjoy golf again, my body is pretty much back to where it was and I’m really excited to be back in Europe again and hopefully I can play some good golf this week.
“We were talking about coming and playing here at the Czech Masters and it must have inspired me to play well because I’ve had some good results since then! Hopefully I can come here now and compete.”
Willett finished in a tie for 13th in 2014 as Jamie Donaldson lifted the trophy and is delighted to be making a second golfing trip to Prague.
“I remember little bits of the golf course, although it’s obviously changed a lot since I was last here," he said.
“Last time, my wife and I came here and we really enjoyed the city. Unfortunately she couldn’t join me this time but it’s a fantastic place to be with loads of beautiful sights to see and the people are brilliant.
“To be able to have a golf tournament in a place like this is a lot of fun and it makes for a special week.”
