New challenge for Donald

Luke Donald quickly discovered that Royal St George’s will provide a very different test to Castle Stuart last week.
Luke Donald quickly discovered that Royal St George’s will provide a very different test to Castle Stuart last week.
Fresh off a victory at the Barclays Scottish Open this past Sunday, the world number one soon found himself facing a very different challenge when he took to the course at Sandwich on Tuesday for a practice round.
Facing a strong wind, Donald could not reach the fairway on the long seventh and had to take a driver on the short 11th.
“It really tested everything,” said the Englishman, who carded the lowest round of his European Tour career in his final round at Castle Stuart – a 63.
“I think that’s part of what you get when you come to links golf – you don’t really know what you’re going to get.
“Yesterday was sunny and not too windy, today was a little chillier and a pretty stiff breeze. That’s the nature of links.
“The preparation I did before the Scottish we had good weather too, so I haven’t really done a lot in this kind of a wind.
“You can’t really control that and I still think going and playing last week was good preparation for me.
“It obviously wasn’t exactly like it is this week, but there are certain similarities, even dependent on the weather conditions and the course, that always stay the same in links golf.
“The chip-and-runs, the texture of the grass, those kind of things stay pretty constant and you certainly learn from that.
“You’re working on holding the ball in left-to-right winds and kind of having a feeling of how far you can hit your irons into winds.
“I hit a seven-iron from 119 yards on one hole just because if you hit anything hard, it gets up in the wind and it gets blown away.”
Donald, one of the shorter hitters on Tour, will certainly be facing a stiff challenge when he gets underway on Thursday, should the wind again be a factor.
Nevertheless, after a string of incredible performances and victories this year, he’s feeling very good about his chances.
“Certainly my confidence is very high,” he said. “I’ve just come off winning last week and have had a great season so far, making my way to the top of the world rankings.
“Everything is going to plan. What’s left is to try and contend and win a major this year.
“That would really be very special and is something I’m trying to do.
“We all start the first hole even and everyone has a good chance to win.
“There a benefits and disadvantages of being the favourite. There is more pressure but there is some added confidence there. We’ll have to see how all of us handle it,” he added.
Latest
-
News
Billy Horschel accuses LIV Golf players of being ‘hypocrites and liars’
Horschel made an impassioned defence of the PGA Tour and DP World Tour ahead of the co-sanctioned Genesis Scottish Open.
-
European Tour
Ian Poulter among three LIV Golf Series players to get Scottish Open reprieve
Poulter, Adrian Otaegui and Justin Harding have had their suspensions temporarily stayed.
-
News
Graeme McDowell shocked by people wishing him dead since switching to LIV Golf
The 2010 US Open champion acknowledged his switch to LIV was “about the money”.
-
PGA Tour
JT Poston completes wire-to-wire victory at John Deere Classic
England’s Callum Tarren bogeyed two of his last four holes en route to a one-under 70 as he was forced to settle for equal-sixth place.
-
European Tour
Adrian Meronk makes history for Poland as David Law celebrates Open berth
Meronk’s flying finish made him his country’s first winner on the DP World Tour.
-
News
Paul Casey becomes latest player to join LIV Golf series
He opted out of the inaugural Saudi International on the European Tour in 2019 citing concerns over the country’s human rights record.
-
European Tour
Adrian Meronk has the edge as he aims to make Tour history for Poland
A third round of 68 at Mount Juliet means a one-shot advantage on a crowded leaderboard.
-
European Tour
Shane Lowry birdies last four holes to make Irish Open cut
Jorge Campillo tops the leaderboard at the midway point.
-
European Tour
Keith Pelley hits back at 16 players threatening DP World Tour with legal action
Pelley says the sanctions against players who competed in the first LIV Golf event are ‘proportionate’ and ‘fair’.
-
PGA Tour
JT Poston takes two-shot lead at John Deere Classic
The 29-year-old also became the first player on record to open consecutive Tour events with 62 or better.