Masters champion Danny Willett managing new expectations

Danny Willett Irish Open

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Masters champion Danny Willett admits that he is learning how to deal with raised expectations following his maiden major success at Augusta last month.

The Englishman finished three strokes clear of the field in Georgia to become the first European player to win a Green Jacket since Jose Maria Olazabal achieved the feat in 1999.

The 28-year-old also welcomed his son Zach into the world 12 days before his Augusta success and subsequently took four weeks off before he returned to action at the Players Championship last week.

Willett failed to make the cut by one stroke in Florida and admits that he is quickly learning how to deal with the raised expectations that both he and the golfing word now have when he enters a tournament.

He said: “People’s expectations are obviously a lot bigger. Your own expectations, you try not to make them take over and just keep trying to do your thing.”

The world number nine will make his return to the European Tour this week when he competes at the Irish Open, an event where he has secured a top-10 finish in each of the last three years.

Willett will tee it up alongside compatriot Lee Westwood, who he played with during the final round of the Masters, and Rafa Cabrero-Bello during the opening two days at The K Club, and is priced at 17.00 to win the tournament.

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