Donald charges into US contention

England’s Luke Donald has celebrated his Ryder Cup wild card with a stunning charge into contention at The Barclays.
England’s Luke Donald today celebrated his Ryder Cup wild card with a stunning charge into contention at The Barclays in New Jersey.
Donald began the final round of the opening FedEx Cup play-off series event nine shots behind overnight leader Martin Laird, but raced to the turn in just 28 shots at the exclusive Ridgewood Country Club.
The 32-year-old, selected along with Padraig Harrington and Edoardo Molinari by Europe’s Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie, birdied the first six holes in succession, the longest putt coming from just 12 feet on the second.
The US Tour record of nine birdies in a row set by Mark Calcavecchia last year was within Donald’s sights, but his birdie putt on the seventh was hit too hard and caught the edge of the hole and stayed out.
After another par on the eighth, Donald holed from 18ft for birdie on the ninth to improve to 10 under par, just two behind Laird as the Scot began his final round.
Montgomerie’s wild card selections meant there was no place on his 12-man team for Paul Casey and Justin Rose, with both also in action here on Sunday.
Rose, seeking a third win in America this year, opened with a par four to remain seven under, while Casey was one over after six holes to lie four under.
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