As we continue the build-up to the Masters Tournament, europeantour.com hears from some of the leading contenders to win the first Major of the season. Next up, Luke Donald…
World Number One Luke Donald will bid to build on his impressive record at the Masters Tournament when he makes his eighth visit to Augusta National next week.
Twelve months ago, Donald finished four shots behind winner Charl Schwartzel of South Africa in a share of fourth place to take his tally of top ten finishes at the first Major of the season to three in seven appearances, with tied third on his debut in 2005 his best performance to date.
Had Donald not ran up a double bogey in the final round on the par three 12th hole, where his tee shot found the lake adjacent to the green, the early momentum he had gained may have powered him to his first Major title.
As it was, Donald was powerless to prevent the fast-finishing Schwartzel from claiming his first Green Jacket in spectacular fashion, but the Englishman is determined to make amends this time around after going so close last year.
He said: “If I was a spectator at last year’s Masters, I would have loved to have either been there or watching it on TV. As a player, hearing all those roars coming down the back nine was so exciting for me. I was playing with Bo [Van Pelt], and he was making a couple eagles and I was making a few birdies of my own.
“It was one of those Masters where the conditions were right for a lot of birdies, a lot of charging on the back nine, and it made for a lot of fun. It was great to be a part of, and exciting to be in with a chance of winning, but the 12th was obviously a killer for me.
“It was probably the only bad swing I made all day – I just pushed it about ten yards with a nine iron, and paid the penalty. But I was proud of the way I dug in deep and made some birdies coming home, and hopefully I can put myself into contention to win again this year.”
If recent form is anything to go by – he won the Transitions Championship on the US PGA Tour two weeks ago to return to the summit of the Official World Golf Ranking – Donald will have a leading role to play in next Sunday’s denouement.
His quiet, laid-back demeanour hides a steely determination which propelled Donald to three European Tour victories and The Race to Dubai title in 2011, and he sees the same qualities in last year’s Masters Tournament champion.
He said: “I think in a way Charl has a similar personality to me. He’s kind of a quiet guy who just goes about his business, and because of that in some ways maybe he didn’t quite get the credit that he deserved for his win.
“But what he did last year was pretty amazing – I don’t think anyone’s ever birdied the last four holes to win the Masters. To do that under pressure to win your first Major is something else, and if he’s on that kind of form again this year, he’ll be tough to beat.”
The 76th edition of the Masters Tournament will have to go some way in order to match last year’s event for excitement, but with most of golf’s big guns currently firing on all cylinders, Donald is expecting another week to savour in Georgia.
He said: “Augusta is always one of the most exciting events of the year, just because it’s the first Major and especially this year because a lot of good things are happening in golf, a lot of the big names are playing well.
“So golf is really exciting right now. Tiger’s obviously making a comeback, and all of the pieces of the puzzle are falling into place. As players, we all look forward to the Masters. It’s what a lot of the off-season is geared towards, and I certainly can’t wait to get there.”
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