Donald: I could have been picked

In his first interview since missing out on the European Ryder Cup team, Luke Donald speaks about his disappointment.
After he failed to qualify outright, the Englishman was overlooked by captain Paul McGinley as a wildcard pick. Instead, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Ryder Cup debutant Stephan Gallacher were picked.
“It was disappointment mixed with anger,” revealed the 36-year-old on telegraph.co.uk.
“I could have been picked ahead of Lee, Stephen or Ian and feel I could have justified the wild card. But it was not anger directed at Paul or anyone, just at the fact I’d put myself in that situation.
“Let’s face it, but for a few instances during the season I would have qualified by right. If Matt Kuchar had not holed that bunker shot at the last to deny me the win at Hilton Head and if Rory [McIlroy] had not got on that birdie run on the back nine at Wentworth I could have won there.
“All these things flash through your mind when you’re trying to come to terms with it. But then, the last few months I did not play well at all and you realise you can’t blame anyone but yourself. Not to say the disappointment didn’t sit with me for a few weeks. It did.”
Nevertheless, Donald sang the teams praises and admired McGinley’s captaincy. He added that team Europe must be something right as they continue to dominate the iconic competition.
“It’s not my place to comment…but look, Europe have won eight out of the last 10 matches and to my mind that cannot be a coincidence,” said the former wolrd number one.
“There must be things we are doing right and things the US continue to do wrong. It’s not really our problem. We have to carry on the way we are doing it.”
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.