Sunday 7 February 2016 15:09, UK
Rich Beem looks back at an entertaining final round at the Dubai Desert Classic and predicts big things for Danny Willett after his dramatic one-shot victory...
I've have to say I've been watching him for a year and a half now and Willett's just so impressive. He really wants it and you don't make putts like he did on the 18th unless you really want to be in that moment and win tournaments.
Hats off to Willett for such a courageous fight, and the way he finished with the birdie at the last. He knew he needed to beat the best and he went out and did it in such dramatic fashion.
This kid is going to rise up the world rankings for sure and it would not shock me to see him in the top 10 by the end of the year.
"He needed that big putt in the end to take the walk-off win. He judged it perfectly."
He did what great players do. He's a good finisher. I watched him last year in Switzerland close it out in good fashion and he's just a gutsy player. You know he's not going to take anything for granted, he's going to dig his heals in and fight until the very end.
You can't go out and be as good as he is without having some confidence. The Ryder Cup is now almost a certainty, if wasn't already, and what a great comfort that is for him to plan be able to plan his schedule so far in advance.
Winning round
He kind of made a little stumble with the bogey at the second, but bounced back with a nice little birdie two holes later. It seemed like he took on every flagstick on this front nine, except maybe the seventh, and it was such a wonderful display of irons.
Wayne Riley talked about yesterday how good of a putter he is, and it's very true! I love the routine and it never changes. Whether it's 15 feet or three feet, he goes through the same motions every time.
After following the birdie at the 12th with a delicate chip at the 13th, it seemed like the tournament was well and truly done. You had the sense that nobody was going to be able to catch him and it would be smooth sailing.
Unfortunately for him the bogey at 14 brought everyone back in to the pack, and it needed that big putt in the end to take the walk-off win. He judged it perfectly and it was one heck of a putt.
Bright future
I think the younger players are embracing competing alongside the likes of Rory McIlroy and look forward to playing alongside him and learning a few things.
I know in my career that any I chance that I had to play with someone like Phil Mickelson or Tiger Woods I'd relish, as you would pay attention to the things they did on the golf course which made them such great players.
These young players are learning too, but seem to be at a much faster rate than I ever did! They're not afraid of the McIlroy's and Spieth's, they all want to be world No 1 and will do whatever it takes to get there.
Willett can go ahead now and start planning his schedule for the rest of the year. He might be able to include the Olympics depending on rankings, but he'll certainly have all four majors to look forward to.
