Danny Willett Wins First Event of 2015 European Tour Schedule at Nedbank Golf Challenge

By Fred Altvater on Monday, December 8th 2014
Danny Willett Wins First Event of 2015 European Tour Schedule at Nedbank Golf Challenge

Danny Willett collected his second career win on the European Tour at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa. He carded a six-under-par 66 in the final round on Sunday to win by four shots over Ross Fisher.

Willett’s only other career win came at the 2012 BMW International Open. In 2014, he posted six top-10 finishes in 27 starts, earned €1.03 million and was No. 25 in the Race to Dubai.

The Nedbank Golf Challenge is an invitation only tournament limited to a 30-man field. The big story this week was the return to the top of the leaderboard for former world No. 1, Luke Donald.

Donald has not performed up to world-class standards, since he won the money titles on both the PGA and European Tours in 2011. He took a new attitude to the golf course this week and it paid dividends.

On Friday, he blitzed the Gary Player Golf Course for a nine-under-par 63 that included six birdies on his front nine and three more at Nos. 10, 13 and 14, to get to nine-under-par. He could only manage pars on Nos. 15-19 to close out his round, or he could have posted a very memorable round.

The Northwestern graduate had a one-shot lead over Willett heading into the final round, but his one-over-par 73 on Sunday forced him to settle for third and allowed fellow Englishmen, Willett, as well as, Fisher to pass him.

Perhaps this will signal a return to form for one of the most consistent players in golf.

Fifty-year-old Miguel Angel Jimenez once again showed he can play with the young guys. He posted rounds of 70-74-69-69, good enough for sixth place.

The European Tour’s 2014 Rookie of the Year, American, Brooks Koepka got his 2015 European Tour campaign off to a solid start with a T-19 finish.

The European Tour will stay in South Africa next week for the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek Country Club.

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