Willett unhappy with fans’ abuse

Danny Willett has slammed the abuse directed towards his family at the 2016 Ryder Cup in Hazeltine last week.

Willett, who was making his debut for Europe in the coveted tournament, was subject of some rather unsavoury comments throughout the three days of competition.

This was largely down to the magazine article his brother Pete wrote that mocked American supporters, even calling them a “baying mob of imbeciles”.

Unsurprisingly, the home support was very hostile but the Masters champion, who failed to win any of his three matches, says the line was drawn when fans started directing abuse to his parents and wife.

The 29-year-old from Sheffield says the incidents slightly soured his debut Ryder Cup experience.

“I don’t think you should be walking around playing golf while people are saying things to your parents and saying things to your wife,” Willett said.

“I don’t think that’s our sport – that’s not what we play for and that’s not what we do, and unfortunately that happened and it put a little bit of a downer on what was supposed to be my first really good experience of the Ryder Cup.”

However, Willett is not going to let the event in Hazeltine deter him from playing in another Ryder Cup and is already hoping to play a major part in winning back the trophy in France in 2018.

He added: “Going forward, it is what we play for, so we will hopefully be there in 2018 and being strong for Europe.”

Tagged Danny Willett, Hazeltine, Ryder Cup 2016