The 2016 Masters Tournament Highlights

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• published: 22 May 2016
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The 2016 Masters passed, just to keep some beautiful memories of this event The 2016 Masters Tournament was the 80th edition of the Masters Tournament, held April 7–10 at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. Danny Willett won his first major championship, three strokes ahead of runners-up Lee Westwood and defending champion Jordan Spieth.[1] Spieth suffered one of the biggest collapses in Masters history.[2] Spieth led the tournament from the first round and built a five-shot lead going to the back nine on Sunday, but lost six shots to par over the next three holes culminating in a quadruple-bogey on the 12th hole where he hit two balls into Rae's Creek.[3] Willett shot a bogey-free 67 to overtake Spieth when the leader faltered on the back nine. Willett became the first European to win the Masters since 1999, and the first Englishman to do so since Nick Faldo in 1996 Masters 2016: Danny Willett's Sunday 67 earns the win as Spieth stumbles Danny Willett was considering not even playing in this year's Masters as his wife was expecting their first child with the due date on April 10. Fortunately for him, and unfortunately for the rest of the field, his wife gave birth to their son less than two weeks ago, which made the decision for him. Willett was the last player in the 89-man field to officially accept his invitation -- as is evidenced by his caddie wearing No. 89 -- but the only number that matters on Sunday is 1. The first-time father became a first-time major champion on Sunday as Willett posted a bogey-free 5-under 67 in the final round, one of only two bogey-free rounds and three 67s on the day. "It's not been a bad last 12 days," said Willett. "Yeah, words can't describe the feelings of what's going on and what we've just accomplished. And this week. I don't know, I' just going to have to wait and see if it sinks in." As for if he'd thought about how crazy it was that he won after thinking two weeks ago that he wouldn't even be playing in the Masters. "No. It's mental," said Willett. Many will point to Jordan Spieth's implosion on the 12th hole as Boy Wonder gifting the green jacket away, but Willett earned this win. His second nine performance was spectacular as he made his steady climb up the leaderboard, putting him in perfect position to pounce on Spieth's mistakes. Birdies on 13 and 14 moved Willett into the lead as Spieth dunked his repeat chances in the water on 12, and a dart on 16 allowed Willett to move to 5 under. He made a nervy downhill chip on 17 look routine to get a crucial par and then played the 18th to perfection with a 3 wood down the fairway and an iron to 15 feet to leave an easy two-putt. Willett wasn't a household name coming into the 2016 Masters, but this is not a fluke victory. Willett spends most of his time on the European Tour where he finished second to Rory McIlroy in the Race to Dubai. He also has two significant victories across the pond during the last year -- the 2015 European Masters and the 2016 Dubai Desert Classic. Willett has skyrocketed from 51st to 12th in the Official World Golf Rankings over the last year, and many were waiting for his breakthrough on the PGA Tour. He picked quite the time to make his mark, winning the Masters as his first career PGA Tour event. Willett now takes the green jacket back to England, ending a 20-year drought for the nation. He joins three-time champion Nick Faldo as the only Englishmen to win the Masters. Coincidentally, Willett matched Faldo's 1996 67 score that he famously chased down Greg Norman with to win. Now Willett can return across the pond and celebrate his first major victory with his newly expanded family of three.