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 The 28-year-old Englishman, who took advantage of American Jordan
Spieth's spectacular back-nine meltdown to win by three shots at
Augusta National on Sunday, has leapfrogged Rory McIlroy at the top
of the Ryder Cup qualifying list.
Rank outsider Willett's victory also sent him into the world top 10
at number nine after entering the week ranked 12th.
"Still can't believe what has happened. Masters champion 2016. Wow,"
he said on his Twitter account after becoming the first European
winner of the opening major championship of the season since 1999.
"Words can't describe the week I've had. Thanks to everyone involved
@The Masters, fantastic hospitality from the members."
Willett said that being in the same two-ball with fellow countryman
Lee Westwood, and his caddie Billy Foster, in the final round was a
big help.
 "I've played a lot with Lee over the last couple of years," he
explained. "I'm very good friends with Billy as well so I couldn't
have asked for a better pairing for a Sunday in a major when you're
both in contention.
"We both played some great golf. We were kind of egging each other
on to do well.
"I'm delighted for Lee...hopefully this is a springboard for him to
get back to being the great player that we all know he is," added
Willett.
Westwood finished in a share of second position alongside Spieth, a
result that lifted him within one place of the top nine automatic
European Ryder Cup qualifying spots for the biennial match against
the U.S. team at Hazeltine, Minnesota.
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Top nine on Ryder Cup list:
European points
1. Danny Willett (England)
2. Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland)
3. Matthew Fitzpatrick (England)
4. Andy Sullivan (England)
World points
1. Henrik Stenson (Sweden)
2. Justin Rose (England)
3. Rafa Cabrera-Bello (Spain)
4. Sergio Garcia (Spain)
5. Thomas Pieters (Belgium)
The other three members of the 12-man European team will be selected
as wildcards by captain Darren Clarke.
(Editing by Larry Fine)
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