Danny Willett relives 2016 Masters triumph as he prepares to defend his title

By Sam Drury

Danny Willett and caddie Jonathan Smart reflect on their memorable win at Augusta in 2016

Danny Willett has plenty of happy memories to look back on as he returns to Augusta hoping to retain his Masters title.

The 29-year-old from Sheffield won the Green Jacket as he triumphed by three shots and, in an exclusive interview with Sky Sports for the documentary Steel Magnolia, relived the events of that dramatic Sunday afternoon last April.

As Willett began his back nine, it appeared as though he and the rest of the field were playing for second place given the commanding lead held by Jordan Spieth.

Willett birdied 12 and 13 but after missing the chance of another gain at 15, his chances looked to be over until he turned to see the leaderboard telling a very different story.

"Jordan had gone bogey, bogey, quad and all of a sudden you look up at the leaderboard and it's 'oh, I'm leading the Masters by one,'" Willett recalls.

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"The atmosphere around that 16th tee box then got a little bit more intense!"

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The Englishman proceeded to birdie the 16th and, despite clawing back a couple of shots at 13 and 15, Spieth was unable to recover from his nightmare run after the turn, ensuring Willett became the first European winner of the Masters for 17 years.

Click play on the video above to watch the full interview with defending Masters champion Danny Willett.
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