An impressive run of form has given Willett, left, the chance at China this weekend.
Third place
Willett finished third at the WGC-HSBC Champions event in Shanghai on Sunday, thanks to a 10-under final round 62. It moved him to within 74,214 points of European No 1 McIlroy with only this weekend’s BMW Masters, which is also being held in Shanghai.
Opportunity knocks
Willett is playing at the BMW Masters while McIlroy is taking the weekend off, and a finish in the top 25 will see the Englishman move above McIlroy, with only the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, between November 19-22, to come after this weekend.
Nice buzz
Willett, 28, believes his strong performance at the WGC-HSBC Champions, where McIlroy finished in a tie for eighth, could prove to be a turning point in the duel for top spot. “This could be a very big result for me,” he said. “With Rory not playing next week, I could gain a few more points on him and give us a nice buzz going into the final week into Dubai.”
Fast start
Willett credits winning the opening event of the season, the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa last December, for setting up his successful season. He also won the European Masters in Switzerland in July. “I’ve been determined all year, ever since we got to No 1 the first week out,” he said. “After the big win at the Nedbank, kept winning and pressing hard and we were able to post some really good numbers around the world.”
All on Dubai
McIlroy acknowledged the threat of Willett and that he will need a strong showing in Dubai, where he won in 2012 on the Earth Course, if he is to end the season as No 1. “He’s got a great chance to do something next week at the BMW,” McIlroy said of his rival. “He’s playing next week and has a great chance to creep up on me or overtake. I’ve done well in Dubai before. I’ll just go there and try my best to win and hope that will be enough.”
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