Win would clinch FedEx Cup, player of year honors Few golf seasons have produced as much major championship drama as 2011: Charl Schwartzel’s unprecedented five-birdie finish at the Masters, Rory McIlroy’s superstar turn at the U.S. Open, Darren Clarke’s enchanted run at the British Open and Keegan Bradley’s playoff triumph in the PGA.
When it comes to individual achievement, however, 2011 has been forgettable. No player on the PGA Tour has won more than two events. The only man to win three times on the European Tour has been journeyman Thomas Bjorn.
| Up next |
| Tour Championship |
| When » Thursday-Sunday |
| Where » East Lake Golf Club, |
| Atlanta |
| TV » Golf Channel, NBC |
Anyone looking for clarity in the player of the year race is unlikely to get it this week at the Tour Championship. It’s the final event of the FedEx Cup playoffs, but Bradley is the only 2011 major champion in the 30-player field.
One player, however, has a chance to make 2011 his. Luke Donald has been ranked No. 1 since May and has won once on the PGA Tour and twice on the European. This weekend at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Donald is one of the five players who control their destiny. With a win in the Tour Championship, Donald also would capture the $10 million first prize for the FedEx Cup. In addition, he almost certainly would capture PGA Tour player of the year honors.
“Yeah, more incentive to play well and hopefully win,” Donald told reporters. “I think a win this week would sway a lot of people’s minds. No one has really dominated as much as they have when Tiger [Woods] was winning. A couple guys won a few events, two events, but there’s no clear-cut winner.”
Donald, runner-up last year at the Tour Championship, has been a leader board constant, finishing in the top 10 in 14 of his last 20 tournaments dating to the 2010 FedEx Cup series. Detractors point to his lack of success in majors. He finished fourth at the Masters, eighth at the PGA, 45th at the U.S. Open and missed the cut at the British Open.
“The No. 1 goal at the beginning of this year was to try and compete and be in contention for majors. In that regard, I suppose it was somewhat disappointing,” Donald said. “I think you’ve got to try and peak for those four events as much as you can. I’ll look back at the end of this year and realize maybe I played a little bit too much leading up to the U.S. Open. I felt a little bit over-golfed.”
Donald has often been called an “ATM machine” — part in admiration, part in derision — for his ability to bank checks. The scenario this weekend that would most reinforce that reputation would be for Donald to lose the Tour Championship but win the FedEx Cup.
“I’m really more concentrating on winning the tournament, picking up another trophy, winning the FedExCup, hopefully winning player of the year that comes with it, all the spoils,” Donald said. “But the bonus money is nice.”
