Daniel John Willett, born on 3 October 1987, is a distinguished English professional golfer who competes on the DP World Tour. In April 2016, he achieved a significant milestone by clinching his first major championship at the 2016 Masters Tournament. This remarkable feat made him only the second Englishman ever to accomplish such a victory and the first European in 17 years to triumph at Augusta National.

Willett's journey in golf began as an amateur at Rotherham Golf Club (RGC), where he won the English Amateur Championship in 2007 and participated in the 2007 Walker Cup at Royal County Down. Recognizing his accomplishments, RGC granted him life membership. In March 2008, he achieved the distinction of being the world's top-ranked amateur.

Securing a golf scholarship at Jacksonville State University (JSU) in Alabama, Willett continued to shine. His achievements included being the 2006 Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year and claiming medallist honors at the 2007 OVC Championship. Turning professional in May 2008, he earned his European Tour card for the 2009 season through qualifying school.

Following a successful 2009 season, Willett's career trajectory gained momentum. In 2010, he impressed at the BMW PGA Championship and broke into the top 100 of the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time. Despite a less successful 2011 season, he comfortably retained his tour membership.

Willett's breakthrough on the European Tour occurred in June 2012 when he secured victory at the BMW International Open in Cologne. Subsequent years saw him establish himself as one of Europe's leading players, collecting multiple top-ten finishes and finishing 25th in The Race to Dubai in 2015.

Notable victories included the Nedbank Golf Challenge in December 2014 and the Omega European Masters in July 2015. Despite earning enough to qualify for a PGA Tour card, Willett opted not to take PGA Tour membership for the 2015–16 season.

Willett's consistent performance and notable victories underline his status as a prominent figure in the world of professional golf, with his remarkable journey from practicing in sheep pastures to becoming a major championship winner adding a compelling narrative to his impressive career.