Did Rory McIlroy Discourage Danny Willett from Playing the PGA TOUR

Danny Willett recently turned down the offer to play on the PGA TOUR of America for next season.

Most people were amazed that a player like Danny would spurn such an opportunity, but you have to remember that Danny has had a great season this year, earning well over a million dollars overall.

These days a good golfer can earn that money by just playing good golf, but to win a Major, especially in America, takes a lot of dedication, a fierce competitive edge and a real desire to win.

 
Having gained millionaire status it is possible that Danny has lost some of that keenness to win, he has lost the fear of financial failure.  He can play week in, week out on the European Tour and be comfortable, he will never be poor again.

Playing on both Tours can be demanding and Danny was not willing to make that sacrifice;

“I think if you want to play in America and play well, you’ve got to be willing to up ship and go and do it full time.  We weren’t willing to up and move straight away and move everything over there just yet.”

To win a Major you need to know the courses that the PGA use, and the only way to get some real knowledge of those courses is to play on the Tour.  Turing up to practice on a course that you never seen before, just a day or two before the competition does not work, many have tried and failed.

I wonder also if the comments from Rory McIlroy about playing on both tours influenced Danny’s thinking.  Rory would quit the European Tour if he could, but needs to play to get a place in the Ryder Cup squad.

 
Rory admits to thinking about it;

“Have I contemplated quitting the European Tour? Yes, I have.  Would I do it?  Probably not.”

It is to do with the constant traveling, and it is possibly the reason Danny has decided to stay put in Europe.

Rory is tired;

“You know, getting sick of the travel, getting sick of having to cross back and forth between tours.  There’s a lot of not sleeping in my own bed, but that’s the life of a professional golfer these days.”

“One hundred and eighteen different airports in a year, that’s a lot.  I didn’t even realize I went to that many places in one year.  I think it was 287 nights in a hotel room.  It’s a lot.”

“But it just shows the world has become so small these days, playing different tours and having commitments either side of the Atlantic.  It all adds up.”

Whether Danny has made the right decision or not we will have to wait and see, but winning a Major seems a long way off.

Cover Photo via @Danny_Willett Twitter