Rolex Series

Willett enjoying familiar feelings in Dubai

Danny Willett is hoping to add to his fond memories of Jumeirah Golf Estates after moving into contention at the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai.

Danny Willett

Six birdies in a second round 67 saw the former Masters Tournament winner move to five under at the halfway stage and enabled the Englishman to claim the clubhouse lead midway through day two.

Willett won this event in 2018 and is trying to recreate the positives from that week.

“There's a lot of golf that's happened since then (2018),” said the 33-year-old.

“It's just vibes of a place, simple things, where you're at, your routines are similar. You're trying to do the same things as you have done year on year and it settles you and calms you down a little bit. 

“Adaptability to certain things hasn't always been my strong point, so I do always like it when I come back to a place that I'm very familiar with.

“Luckily I've done well around some really cracking places, so it's nice to be familiar with it.”

After improving on his opening 72, Willett added: “We holed a couple more putts. I think the golf course was a little more gettable today, not as much wind, a couple of flags not quite as tucked as yesterday. 

“I think a lot of guys would agree yesterday was pretty tricky with the crosswinds as strong as it was and really trying to get into some of them really small little knuckles that they've got at the back of the greens. 

“Today is a lot more gettable as you can see from the scoring, so it was nice to take the chances when you feel after the first few, you feel it is a bit more that way, so it is nice to capitalise.”

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