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Danny Willett excited for showdown with Henrik Stenson in South Africa

By Sky Sports Golf

Wednesday 9 November 2016 17:09, UK

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Danny Willett is hoping to find form at this week's Nedbank Golf Challenge - an event he triumphed at in 2014

Danny Willett is relishing the opportunity to try and close the gap on Henrik Stenson at the top of the Race to Dubai standings at this week’s Nedbank Golf Challenge.

The Masters champion led the European Tour's order of merit for the majority of the season until a slump in form during recent weeks now leaves him over 252,000 points behind Stenson with two events remaining.

Willett finished tied-68th at last week's Turkish Airlines Open to remain second in the standings, the same position he ended last season behind Rory McIlroy, but remains hopeful of closing the gap to the Swede in South Africa.  

SUN CITY, SOUTH AFRICA - NOVEMBER 08: Danny Willett of England in action during a practice round ahead of the Nedbank Golf Challenge at the Gary Player CC
Image: Danny Willett has struggled in his last three events since finishing runner-up at the Italian Open in September

"Me and Henrik have both had fantastic years, both picking up our first major and both had good showings elsewhere around the world," Willett said.

"Now it boils down to two events where I am back to chasing. I'm going to try to make up some ground this week and hopefully try to make up ground next week or fend him off and see how everything goes.

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"We've both got pretty good track records around this golf course, as well, so it could be interesting."

Willett tees off alongside Stenson and Alfred Dunhill Links champion Tyrrell Hatton for the opening round, while home favourite Louis Oosthuizen features with Rafa Cabrera-Bello and Alex Noren.

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COLOGNE, GERMANY - JUNE 24: Henrik Stenson of Sweden walks with Danny Willett of England (L) during the second round of the BMW International Open at Gut
Image: Willett (L) lost top spot when Henrik Stenson (R) finished tied-second at the WGC-HSBC Champions

Victory for Stenson would see the Open champion claim a second Race to Dubai title if Willett finishes outside the top-10, while a win for Willett would guarantee him top spot heading into next week's season finale.

McIlroy could see his hopes of a third successive Race to Dubai crown come to an end this week, with the world No 2 not featuring in South Africa and already trailing Stenson by more than a million points.

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Henrik Stenson looks ahead to the Nedbank Golf Challenge, where victory could also secure him the Race to Dubai title

A top-seven finish for Stenson or a runner-up finish for Willett would be enough to end McIlroy's chances of topping the European Tour and PGA Tour money standings in the same year.

Watch the Nedbank Golf Challenge throughout the week live on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf. Live coverage begins on Thursday from 9am.

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