Englishman now No. 1 after last week’s win
When a new golfer ascends to No. 1 in the world rankings, it’s usually cause for celebration. But in the post-Tiger Woods Era — if it can already be called that — it has become reason for examination.
So what has Luke Donald, with no major championships and three PGA Tour wins, done to deserve his promotion to No. 1?
The Englishman is used to such questions. Two years ago in a story in the Daily Telegraph penned by D.C. golf writer Barker Davis, Donald was described as everything that’s wrong with modern golf — overpaid, overendorsed, modestly accomplished and exceedingly comfortable.
| Memorial |
| When » Thursday-Sunday |
| Where » Muirfield Village Golf Club, |
| Dublin, Ohio |
| TV » Golf Channel, CBS |
When Davis cleverly dubbed the malady “Luke Donald Disease,” he created an unwilling prototype for golf’s new age.
Donald admits that he was stung by the criticism and was reminded of it in recent weeks when — on the verge of achieving the top rank for the first time — he lost in a playoff to Brandt Snedeker at the Heritage and then fell to Ian Poulter in the match-play finals of the Volvo Masters in Spain.
But last week in the BMW PGA Championship in the suburbs of London, Donald achieved the top rank in the correct manner, battling then-No. 1 Lee Westwood in the final round before emerging in a playoff.
Ever mindful of his check-cashing reputation, Donald said all the right things after his victory, placing the title above the rank.
“It’s something I’ve never really thought too much about,” Donald told reporters on Wednesday in Ohio, where he is preparing for Jack Nicklaus’ Memorial. “I knew if it did ever come to fruition it would be very special. But it wasn’t at the top of my list of things to accomplish.”
At the BMW, Donald actually won without his ‘A’ game.
“I would have loved to have won by 10 and not gone through the stress,” Donald, 33, said. “That’s what was more satisfying to me than anything else, that even without really feeling totally in control of my game, I was able to get it done.”
Donald is in the midst of the best year of his career, with nine straight top-10 finishes on the PGA and European tours. It’s a good time for Donald for the upcoming U.S. Open at Congressional, though the course may be too long (7,568 yards) for a man who ranks No. 163 on the tour in driving distance.
“I’ve always said if you’re playing well, you can win any tournament,” Donald said. “It doesn’t really matter the circumstances. I’m obviously on a big high confidence wise.”
Congressional is not a favorite of Donald. He skipped the A&T National there in 2007-09 and the Booz Allen in 2005. Donald said he will go to Congressional next week to begin preparations for the June 16-19 tournament.
For the Northwestern graduate, a major championship would complete a growing resume and fend off any criticism of a major-less No. 1. His best major finishes were ties for third in the 2005 Masters and 2006 PGA.
So is better to reach No. 1 or win a major?
“You can ask someone who probably hasn’t had a great career, but has won a major, there might be a different answer,” Donald said. “But I would love to finish my career winning a major. If I don’t it won’t be the end of the world.”
