Donald looking set to return to number one

Updated May 27, 2012 08:26:09

Luke Donald is in pole position to retain the PGA Championship title and return to the top of the world rankings after overnight leader James Morrison suffered a third round meltdown at Wentworth.

Morrison had been four shots clear after a second round 64, but the world number 236 carded a woeful 81 on Saturday to leave him eight strokes behind Donald heading into Sunday's final round.

As England's Morrison struggled to recover after a quadruple bogey eight, a triple bogey eight and three other bogeys, Donald made light of testing conditions to take the lead.

His 69 was the joint best round of a windy day and the Englishman is well on course to secure the top eight finish needed to seize the number one spot from Rory McIlroy, who missed a second successive cut on Friday.

The 34-year-old is now 11 under par and two shots ahead of second placed Justin Rose as he bids to follow Nick Faldo and Colin Montgomerie as the only players to make a successful defence of the European Tour's flagship event.

"That was by far my best round of the three. The swing was swirling and I hit a lot of solid shots," Donald said.

"There were a couple of loose ones coming down the stretch, but I'm very pleased with that finish - it was hugely important for me.

"Physically and mentally it was tough and it's going to be a grind tomorrow."

A defiant Morrison added: "I desperately, desperately want to keep going forward. I expect a lot, but if I shoot 80 or 65 I'll take what I can from it."

Rose, who could move to a career-high fifth in the world by winning on Sunday, was one of only three players to break 70 in testing conditions.

"I'm delighted," he said. "There were some borderline holes, as there are at US Opens and on Sundays, but I sort of relished the challenge.

"It takes all your experience and patience and it certainly tested me."

Lawrie is in third spot on seven under after a 72, while joint fourth are former Open champion Paul Lawrie and South African trio Branden Grace, Richard Sterne and Ernie Els, who was furious with tournament organisers for not keeping the greens well watered.

"I asked them to put water on the greens, so put fucking water on the greens," Els said.

"You don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure it out. The guys are not happy and I'm with them. The Tour has got to play ball, it's not my job."

Lee Westwood was unable to close the gap on the leaders as the Englishman's hopes of ending his long wait for victory at Wentworth were shattered.

Westwood is making his 19th appearance here and came in with high hopes of lifting the trophy after losing a play-off to Donald last year.

But the 39-year-old's erratic form this week, 18 birdies in three days have been offset by eight bogeys, three doubles and a triple, has left him well off the pace.

"I've just got a destructive one in there. It's a bit of a pull hook and it's my bad shot when I'm not swinging well," Westwood said.

"I'm a bit tired. I've played a lot this year already."

AFP

Tags: sport, golf, united-kingdom

First posted May 27, 2012 08:22:12

View the original article here

Donald returns to number one ranking

Updated May 28, 2012 10:05:42

Luke Donald looked back with pride after successfully defending his PGA Championship title at Wentworth and returning to the top of the world rankings.

A year after becoming number one for the first time at the same event Donald was back at the head of the list for the fourth time in his career.

The Englishman carded a four-round total of 273, 15-under par and won by four shots from Scotland's Paul Lawrie and Justin Rose from England.

Rose, who missed a six foot putt at the last which would have given him second place outright, had put the pressure on during the front nine before Donald eased away to win and displace Rory McIlory as world number one.

"There is something special about going 12 months and still being number one," the 34-year-old said.

"We have swapped it a couple of times but to go a 12 month span is something I am very proud of and is a vindication that what I am doing is right and shows that my game is improving."

This was a much more comfortable win for Donald than last year's when he had to win a play-off against Lee Westwood to take the crown.

"I enjoyed the walk up the 18th more this time with a four-shot lead. It is very special to come back here - this is the biggest event we play on the European Tour," Donald added.

"I played nicely for the whole week but today was the most difficult day in terms of pressure. I had a two-shot lead but I was trying to defend and I had never successfully defended a title before.

"I felt some tension out there - it is not easy going out with a lead and trying to close out a tournament. Justin is a solid player and I knew he was not going to give it away - I had to go and earn it."

Ireland's Peter Lawrie, who had shared the lead after the first round, had two birdies in the first seven holes but his hopes went up in smoke with a triple bogey seven at the eighth and he finished on 280, level par and in fourth spot with South African Branden Grace a further shot back in fifth.

Donald became only the third player to win back-to-back PGA titles following in the footsteps of Sir Nick Faldo (1980-1981) and Colin Montgomerie, who won three times from 1998 and this was the fourth English win in a row here after Paul Casey, Simon Khan and Donald's first victory last year.

Rose got level with Donald with successive birdies at the third and fourth whilst Donald dropped a shot at the fourth. However Donald responded by holing putts of 15 and 18 feet at the sixth and seventh to go clear again.

Donald played serene golf for the rest of the back nine making up shots at the 10th, 12th and 16th whilst Rose bogeyed the 16th after hitting his second shot into a greenside bunker and Donald shut the door.

AFP

Tags: golf, sport, england, united-kingdom

First posted May 28, 2012 09:27:51

View the original article here

Dufner wins maiden title, Donald back at number one

Updated April 30, 2012 09:36:16

American Jason Dufner clinched his first PGA Tour title with a playoff victory over Ernie Els at the New Orleans Classic, while Luke Donald in third reclaimed the world number one spot.

Dufner, a runner-up three times on the US circuit, sealed the win with a two-putt birdie on the second extra hole at the TPC Louisiana, the par-five 18th.

Both players had good birdie chances at the first extra hole, also the 18th, but Dufner missed his attempt there from seven feet and Els from six feet.

The duo had finished the regulation 72 holes on 19-under-par 269, Els eagling the seventh on his way to a five-under 67 and Dufner narrowly missing a 10-foot birdie putt at the last to close with a 70.

Britain's Donald fired a 67 to finish alone in third at 17-under and will regain the number one spot from Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy when the new official rankings are issued.

Donald needed to finish better than seventh to reclaim the number one spot from McIlroy that he relinquished to the Ulsterman when finishing 37th at the Heritage Classic two weeks ago.

Reuters

Tags: sport, golf, united-states

First posted April 30, 2012 08:51:21

View the original article here

Donald loses number one ranking

Updated April 16, 2012 11:51:44

England's Luke Donald has surrendered golf's world number one ranking to Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy after a poor showing at the US PGA Heritage tournament.

Donald fired a level-par 71 on Sunday to finish on two-over par 286 for 72 holes, well off the pace. He needed to share eighth place or better this week to keep his razor-thin margin ahead of McIlroy in the rankings.

Once eight players reached the clubhouse ahead of him, Donald was ensured of giving the top spot back to McIlroy, whom he passed last month for the honour.

"Is it a concern? No," Donald said. "I would have liked to have played a bit more consistently this year. I built it up nicely last year through tournaments and winning a bunch.

"As a result there's a little bit of fluctuation in the world rankings now."

This is the seventh change at world number one since Lee Westwood overtook Tiger Woods in November 2010, ending the American's five-year run on top.

Westwood, Donald and now McIlroy have all had two spells as world number one, with Martin Kaymer also enjoying an 8-week run in 2011.

Donald, still seeking his first major title, first claimed the top ranking after winning last year's BMW PGA Championship on the European Tour.

"It's a lot more the focus the first time around," Donald said. "Now my focus is on winning tournaments."

Reigning US Open champion McIlroy, who turns 23 on May 4, claimed the top spot for the first time in his young career last month when he won the US PGA Honda Classic, ending a 40-week run by Donald.

But Donald moved past McIlroy two weeks later, reclaiming the top spot by winning the US PGA Transitions Championship.McIlroy, who was off this week, is not expected to play again until the US PGA Wells Fargo Championship in May at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Donald will return to PGA play in two weeks at New Orleans starting April 26.

Sweden's Carl Pettersson shot a final round two-under-par 69 to win the tournament at 14-under, five shots clear of his nearest rival, former Masters champion Zach Johnson who hit a one-under-par 70.

It was his first PGA Tour win since the 2010 Canadian Open and allowed him to match Jesper Parnevik's total of five wins for the most won by a Swedish player.

Colt Knost's chances of winning his first PGA Tour title vanished with a 74 that put him third, one stroke behind American Johnson.

AFP/Reuters

Tags: sport, golf, united-kingdom, northern-ireland

First posted April 16, 2012 07:00:21

View the original article here

Donald returns to number one with play-off triumph

Updated March 19, 2012 10:52:09

Britain's Luke Donald sank a six-foot birdie putt on the first extra hole on Monday (AEDT) to win a four-man play-off at the US PGA Tour event in Florida and reclaim the world number one ranking.

Donald had surrendered the top spot to Rory McIlroy just two weeks ago but ended the Northern Ireland prodigy's reign by capturing the $934,000 crown in the $5.2 million event, the Englishman's final tune-up for next month's Masters.

Hoping to finally capture his elusive first major title at Augusta National next month, reigning US and European prize money champion Donald took his tension-packed triumph in stride.

"It's another step in the right direction to winning majors," Donald said. "This is prefect preparation - two weeks off now and looking toward Augusta."

Donald, South Korean rookie Bae Sang-Moon and Americans Jim Furyk and Robert Garrigus finished 72 holes deadlocked for the lead at 13-under par 271 at the Innisbrook resort's Copperhead course.

The play-off took place on the par-4 18th hole, with Donald the only player to find the dense rough off the tee. Donald blasted his approach six feet from the hole but Garrigus put his second shot only seven feet from the cup.

After Bae and Furyk missed long birdie putts, Garrigus pushed his birdie bid just left of the cup, setting the stage for a dramatic birdie putt that brought reigning US and European PGA money champion Donald his first US play-off win.

"I certainly was a lot more nervous the first time trying to get to number one," Donald said. "This time I was just focused on winning the tournament and it all worked out."

South African star Ernie Els, needing a victory to secure a berth in next month's Masters, led by a stroke at the 17th tee but a bogey-bogey finish left him level fifth with Americans Jeff Overton, Scott Piercy and Ken Duke on 272.

At one stage in the final holes of regulation play, six players shared the lead. Garrigus birdied four of the last five holes to finish a round of 64 for the clubhouse lead while rivals were just starting on the back nine.

"I just needed the putter to wake up and it finally came through for me," Garrigus said.

AFP

Tags: sport, golf, united-states

First posted March 19, 2012 10:52:09

View the original article here

McIlroy crowned world number one

Updated March 05, 2012 14:30:48

Britain's Rory McIlroy held off a spectacular final round charge from Tiger Woods to win the Honda Classic and take over as golf's new world number one.

McIlroy, 22, replaced Luke Donald at the top of the world rankings after a thrilling victory at the PGA National course in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

Only Woods, who finished tied for second with Tom Gillis, reached number one at an earlier age.

The winner of last year's US Open, McIlroy started the last day with a two-shot lead and finished up winning by the same margin after shooting a final round 1-under-par 69 for a total of 12-under.

The Northern Irishman looked to be cruising to victory until Woods charged up the leaderboard with a 62, his lowest final-round score of his career, making an eagle at the last hole to briefly cut the margin to one stroke.

But McIlroy, who had bogeyed the 12th, birdied the 13th to restore his two-shot advantage then kept his composure through the tricky 'Bear Trap' trio of holes to win his third PGA title.

It was the perfect test of McIlroy's credentials, playing three of the toughest holes on the tour, designed by the watching Jack Nicklaus, with Woods waiting for the youngster to slip up.

"It was tough today, especially seeing Tiger make a charge, seeing him post 10-under," McIlroy said.

"To shoot 1-under in these conditions when you go in with the lead... I was just able to get the job done."

Woods, despite just missing out on his first win on the PGA Tour since September 2009, was nonetheless delighted with a performance which suggested he can recapture the form which took him to 14 major wins.

"I really didn't miss many shots today," he said.

"It was a good day and I hit a lot of good putts that went in and some that just skirted the edge.

"It could have really been something special today if a few putts would have gone in.

"It feels good because I felt like I've been close to shooting this score or scores like this.

"It was just a matter of time before things all fell into place."

Gillis, playing in the final group with McIlroy, birdied the final hole for a 69 and a tie for second place at 10-under.

Britain's Lee Westwood, who held the number one ranking for 22 weeks in 2010 and 2011, finished outright fourth, two shots back at 8-under, after closing with a 63.

South Africa's Charl Schwartzel, last year's Masters champion, tied with Britain's Justin Rose at 7-under.

Reuters

Tags: sport, golf

First posted March 05, 2012 09:40:39

View the original article here

McIlroy seizes lead with number one in sight

Updated March 05, 2012 09:33:21

Rory McIlroy moved within one round of seizing golf's number one world ranking on Sunday (AEDT) as he claimed a two-shot lead at the US PGA event in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

The 22-year-old from Northern Ireland, who can supplant England's Luke Donald atop the rankings with a victory, capped a four-under 66 on the par-70 PGA National course with a birdie from a bunker at the par-five 18th and had a 54-hole total of 11-under 199.

He was two strokes in front of Americans Harris English and Tom Gillis, with reigning PGA Champion Keegan Bradley, England's Justin Rose and Brian Harman a further shot back.

McIlroy joined Gillis atop the leaderboard on 10-under with a birdie at the par-three 15th, where he landed his approach five feet from the pin.

Gillis then bogeyed 15 leaving McIlroy alone at the top.

US Open champion McIlroy then extended his lead with his closing birdie.

Gillis posted a 69 and English, a 22-year-old rookie, posted a 66 to join him on 201.

Bradley carded a 68 and Rose a 71 for 203, while Harman followed up his second-round 61 with a 69.

Greg Chalmers was the best placed Australian, six shots off the pace after his third round 68.

Former world number Tiger Woods carded a one-under 69 and was nine off the pace.

It's the second straight week McIlroy has had a chance to reach the top of the rankings. He could have done it last week at the World Golf Championships Match Play Championship but fell in the final to Hunter Mahan.

AFP

Tags: sport, golf, united-states

First posted March 04, 2012 10:24:21

View the original article here

Westwood moves to world number two

Updated December 19, 2011 08:24:43

Lee Westwood brushed aside a challenge from Masters champion Charl Schwartzel to win the $1 million Thailand Golf Championship by seven strokes.

The emphatic victory at the Amata Spring Country Club, Westwood's fourth of the season, means he moves above Rory McIlroy to number two in the world rankings.

The Englishman played fine golf all week including a stunning 12-under-par 60 in the first round.

He shot 69 in his final round to finish the tournament on 266, an impressive 22 under par, for his third win in Asia this season.

Schwartzel fought hard and briefly threatened the leader, but the South African had to settle for the runner-up spot after shooting an even-par 72.

Little-known American Michael Thompson performed well with a 70 to finish in third place, one shot back, while in joint fourth place two strokes further behind were Thailand's Chawalit Plaphol and Simon Dyson of England.

"The first two days were probably the best I've ever played," Westwood said.

"I've never had an 11-shot lead after two rounds before."

Although Westwood's fourth-round score did not match the 60 and 64 of his first two days, he was still very satisfied with it.

"I thought 69 was a good score. I putted great on the back nine," he said.

Westwood felt the turning point on Sunday was at the 12th when he sunk a birdie after Schwartzel had also birdied and looked like he might close to within two shots.

"Fortunately I holed it," he said.

"That was an important putt."

He was understandably upbeat about the next season.

"I'm a better player than one year ago and I'm managing my game better too," he said.

Schwartzel admitted it had been "a tough day".

He conceded that Westwood's birdies on the 12th and 13th proved decisive.

"I had pulled him back to three shots and it was getting close up to that stage," Schwartzel said.

Schwartzel began the day knowing he had to overhaul a four-shot lead and got off to a good start when he birdied the first hole, while Westwood could only manage a par.

But Westwood responded quickly with two successive birdies and at the turn the Englishman held a five-shot lead.

There was drama at the par-five 11th when Schwartzel sunk an eagle while Westwood missed a birdie putt, resulting in a two-shot swing to the South African and cutting the lead to three.

Both players birdied the 12th but Westwood also picked up a stroke at the 13th to restore his four-shot lead.

Schwartzel's challenge effectively ended at the next hole when a poor chip saw him make a bogey, leaving Westwood five shots clear with just four to play.

He went on to stretch the lead by a further two strokes.

John Daly finished joint 16th after shooting 75 in the final round while Sergio Garcia recorded a 71 for joint 24th place.

AFP

Tags: golf, sport, thailand

First posted December 19, 2011 08:24:43

View the original article here

Donald crowned golf's number one

Published:Monday, May 30, 2011 7:24 AESTExpires:Sunday, August 28, 2011 7:24 AEST

English golfer Luke Donald has the world number one ranking after winning a playoff with countryman Lee Westwood at the European PGA championship.

View Transcript

Tags: golf, england

View the original article here