World Golfers Crave Normal Life

The British golfer is now a world celebrity, with an overnight success after unexpectedly winning the world's most prestigious tournament.

Willett became the first British golfer to win the Masters in 20 years, beating Jordan Spieth to win the final on April 10.

He was given a hero’s welcome at Manchester airport by fans and the media on his return home. He was compared to Lionel Messi in terms of popularity. Photographers began to sit outside Willett’s home in Rotherham, waiting for him to appear.

And his new level of sporting fame was confirmed by the PGA Tour earlier this week. The official PGA Tour website announced that Willett would become a member of the prestigious tour.

Willett woke up to the news on Tuesday morning, a bit shocked. He had not yet signed the PGA Tour membership application, which would have formally recognized him. But the tour’s hasty announcement suggested that it was eager for the new Masters champion to become a member. Willett had already qualified for a PGA Tour card, but declined to join the PGA Tour for the 2015-16 season. Had he not won at Augusta on April 10, he would have joined the PGA Tour in 2017, while remaining a member of the European Tour. He would have agreed to join the tour after winning the 2016 Masters, his first major.

Willett in a recent interview with the Telegraph. Photo: Telegraph.

Things have been moving at a whirlwind pace for the 28-year-old golfer, struggling to adjust to a life in Rotherham that has been upended not only by his surprise major title but also by the arrival of his baby son Zachariah, who was born just a week before the start of the 2016 Masters.

Willett had the look of a sleep-deprived father as he sat down for an interview with the Telegraph at Rotherham Golf Club – the golf club that nurtured his talent as a teenager.

“My husband and I only get a few hours of sleep a night. We’re changing diapers and feeding him in the wee hours of the morning. But my biggest experience with this baby thing happened a few days ago, at Meadowhall Mall. Zach peed on my leg, soaking my jeans, while I was feeding him. It was really funny. My wife, Nicole, was busy shopping,” Willett confided.

Less than 48 hours after becoming the first Briton to win the Masters this century, Willett arrived at Manchester airport from the US. “People went crazy,” he recalls. “The airport staff said they hadn’t seen so many reporters there since Messi and Barca came through.”

Willett's win this year was a surprise at the Masters.

He’s also starting to get used to having photographers outside his house. “And then there are the paparazzi sitting outside my house. It’s probably the most boring job in the world, just sitting there waiting for me to take the trash out. I think they’re trying to get a picture of my little boy and my wife. That’s why I publicly posed with Nicole and Zach at the golf course last week, so we can go back to normal and not have a bodyguard standing outside all week,” Willett added.

The son of a retired pastor, Willett lived locally most of his life, apart from his years at Jacksonville State University.

He is now a public figure, but just wants to have a normal life like before.“That’s the hardest thing for me right now. The normal things aren’t normal anymore. I go to Meadowhall shopping centre and people want to take the same picture. I go out to dinner with Nicole and people want autographs. At a tournament, you sign autographs for fans, you meet sponsors. That’s part of what you do, that’s our job. But when that creeps into your normal family life, it’s something I’m going to have to get used to,” Willett laments.

“I can understand now why so many top athletes have to live in a kind of hibernation behind closed doors. Your privacy is invaded. But five years ago, if Tiger Woods had walked past me, I would have asked him to take a picture. It’s a natural human act anyway.”

The small family of the new Masters champion. Photo: Reuters.

Willett has also received well-wishes from other high-profile figures, including those from Liverpool – the club he supports. “I’ve had so many well-wishers from all over the world, I can’t name them all. But Rory McIlroy’s message meant a lot to me. I can’t say exactly what he wrote to me because there was some swearing, but it included words like ‘huge’, ‘fantastic’, ‘brilliant, we’ll have the Masters winner in the Irish Open (where McIlroy is the tournament chairman)’. Former striker Robbie Fowler also sent well wishes. And Scottish and Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish has invited me to the Europa League semi-final in a couple of weeks, when Liverpool play Villarreal. I hope they don’t take me down to the pitch. I just want to have a drink and watch the game.”

Willett wants to have a normal life for another two weeks before returning to competition. “I plan to have a few beers with my friends, and try to have some time with my wife Nicole to lock the door, turn off the phone and enjoy normal family life,” he said.

According to VnExpress