World Number One Luke Donald hopes to end his wait for a first Major at this week’s US Open Championship not just for himself – but for his country.
The 34 year old is part of a highly-talented generation of English players, but like compatriots Lee Westwood, Paul Casey and Ian Poulter, Donald is yet to lift one of golf’s most treasured prizes.
“It's been a while since we have had an English winner in a Major Championship,” said Donald, who is trying to end a 16-year gap since Nick Faldo won the Masters Tournament at Augusta National.
“The English love their golf - you can see that passion and support they had for me and some of the other English players at Wentworth a few weeks ago.
“They're very passionate about it and of course they want us to succeed and hopefully I'll have a good chance to do that this week.”
Many pundits have suggested the Olympic Club layout in San Francisco could suit Donald’s game, and The 2011 Race to Dubai winner believes conditions could play into his hands.
“I don't have any previous experience at this golf course, but I heard a lot about it,” he added.
“It's a tough track. This is a US Open course - US Opens are tough. It challenges every part of your game from the first tee shot to when you walk off 18; it's a grind. Even the easy holes, there's always trouble lurking, and you've just got to play solid golf.
“Most of the time par is a good score and it's a grind out there. They make it tough on us. You're not going to be able to fluke it around this course and you've just got to stand up there and play really well.
“You have to keep it in play, hit a lot of greens, and obviously when you're out of position, be smart about your game. I feel like I am good at plodding my way around a golf course, and I suppose at a US Open you have to plod away even more than the other Majors.
“I've been winning pretty consistently over the last couple years and I've just got to bring that to this level.”
