Phew! as Donald edges Furyk

Luke Donald breathed a sigh of relief after shrugging off a Jim Furyk fightback at the Ryder Cup.
Luke Donald breathed a sigh of relief after shrugging off a Jim Furyk fightback and the distraction of a streaker to notch a crucial point for Europe on the final day of the Ryder Cup.
Donald looked to be cruising to victory in his singles match after going into the back nine three-up.
But Furyk clawed his way back to one down at the 16th and took the contest all the way to the last, where the green was invaded by a man wearing nothing but a cape and a thong, with the words ‘Monkey’s Tee Party’ inked on his torso.
But Donald kept his concentration to halve the hole and claim a point that took Europe 12-9 ahead at Celtic Manor.
“I got off to a fast start and that was crucial,” said Donald, who won three of his four matches at this year’s tournament.
“Getting three up early gave me a little bit of a cushion.
“I knew Jim was going to fight back and I tried my hardest to stick in there but it still came down to the last and I was just able to hold on.”
He added of his victory: “It feels great.
“Obviously, Jim was going to be a really tough opponent. He’s a very similar player to me; he grinds it out.
“He put some pressure on me and I was glad to get a point.”
Despite the streaker’s intervention, Donald took time out to praise the Celtic Manor crowds.
He said: “The atmosphere’s always amazing. These crowds have been great.
“They’ve been committed through all of this bad weather we’ve had.
“We’ve still had great crowds until Monday.
“They really gave me a lot of energy and were a big part in my success today.”
Donald’s victory avenged last week’s Tour Championship loss to Furyk.
“This is a different scenario,” he said.
“I offered him double-or-nothing on the first tee but he didn’t take it… just kidding.
“It’s nice to beat one of the best players in the world.”
Latest
-
PGA Championship
Matt Fitzpatrick: Falling short at US PGA Championship ‘hurts a hell of a lot’
Fitzpatrick carded a closing three-over-par 73 to miss out on the play-off between eventual winner Justin Thomas and Will Zalatoris by two shots.
-
PGA Championship
Justin Thomas pays tribute to caddie Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay after his US PGA victory
Phil Mickelson’s former bagman gave Thomas a crucial pep talk after he shot 74 on Saturday.
-
PGA Championship
Tommy Fleetwood confident he is ‘coming out the other side’ after dip in form
Fleetwood finished in a tie for fifth at the US PGA Championship.
-
PGA Championship
Emotional Justin Thomas credits his experience for US PGA victory
Thomas also won the 2017 US PGA at Quail Hollow.
-
PGA Championship
Justin Thomas eclipses Will Zalatoris in play-off to claim second US PGA title
The former world number one’s victory equalled the biggest comeback in US PGA history.
-
PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy’s Sunday charge at US PGA Championship ends in disappointment
McIlroy’s closing 68 in Tulsa was followed by him declining to speak to waiting reporters.
-
PGA Championship
Paul McGinley says Tiger Woods deserves better than to be a ‘ceremonial golfer’
The 46-year-old withdrew from a major championship for the first time in his professional career at Southern Hills.
-
PGA Championship
Mito Pereira with three-shot lead at US PGA as Tiger Woods withdraws
It is the first time in his career that Woods has withdrawn from a major.
-
PGA Championship
Matt Fitzpatrick relishing chance at securing first major title
A third round of 67 means Fitzpatrick trails leader Mito Pereira by three shots at the US PGA Championship.
-
PGA Championship
Tiger Woods withdraws from US PGA following his worst round at event
The American made the halfway cut with a shot to spare at Southern Hills, but struggled to a nine-over-par 79 in the third round.