Donald subsequently took a golf scholarship at Northwestern University in 1997, where he studied art theory and practice, and became a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. His golf coach at Northwestern University was Pat Goss.[5] He won the individual NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships men's title in 1999, beating the scoring record formerly held by Tiger Woods.[citation needed]
[edit] Professional career
Donald turned professional in 2001. The following year he won the rain-shortened Southern Farm Bureau Classic – becoming only the 11th rookie in PGA Tour history to earn more than $1 million in his first season.
In 2004 he won the Omega European Masters and the Scandinavian Masters on the European Tour. In the same year he was a member of the victorious European Ryder Cup team and also won the WGC-World Cup for England in partnership with Paul Casey. By early 2005 he was in the top twenty of the Official World Golf Rankings and his win in the 2006 Honda Classic moved him into the top ten for the first time. Soon afterwards he moved up to ninth and in January 2007 he moved up to seventh in the world.
Donald, along with Tom Watson, was one of two players to play with Jack Nicklaus in the final two rounds of golf in his career, at the 2005 Open Championship at Old Course at St Andrews.
Donald won his singles match, 2&1 against Chad Campbell in the 36th Ryder Cup to help ensure Europe win the trophy for a third successive time. Donald took part in three matches and won them all. He also won in the foursomes twice, with Sergio García.
Donald has amassed career earnings on the PGA Tour of over $17,000,000, as well as over €7,000,000 on the European Tour.[8] In May 2010, Donald won the Madrid Masters by one shot for his first title in four years.[9] In October 2010, Donald was a member of the European team that won the 2010 Ryder Cup with a one point win over the USA.
[edit] 2011 WGC win
Donald's biggest win to date came in February 2011 at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship when he defeated the German and subsequent world number one Martin Kaymer 3&2 in the final. During the final, Donald built a three-up lead over the first five holes, however Kaymer pegged him back and won three of the next four holes meaning the match was all square entering the back nine. Donald was able to regain his lead with two successive wins at holes 11 and 12, then followed that up with a birdie on hole 15 to re-build his three-up lead with three holes to play. Both players then parred the par three 16th ensuring Donald's first World Golf Championship title and biggest victory of his career.
Donald had been in exceptional form all week and held an unprecedented record of having never trailed at any point during the week. He started the tournament off in fine fashion with thumping 6&5 win over American Charley Hoffman. The second round was much more competitive and his toughest test all week when he faced fellow Ryder Cup team mate Edoardo Molinari. It was a tight match that went down to the 17th, when Donald would win the hole with a birdie to seal a 2&1 victory. His third round opponent was another Italian, this time the young 17 year old Matteo Manassero, however Donald effectively won this by the time the pair reached the 10th hole with a five-up lead. The Italian fought back on the back nine winning two holes off Donald but it was all in vain as Manaserro went down 3&2. In the quarter final on Saturday, he faced American Ryan Moore and Donald again found himself five-up at the 10th hole, but this time finishing it off at the 14th with a 5&4 victory. Later that Saturday his semi final opponent was another United States player in Matt Kuchar, but Donald was in scintillating form, crushing Kuchar 6&5, having found himself seven-up through the first 10 holes.
It was indeed Donald's form on the front nine all week that took him to this title, as apart from the final when Kaymer clawed it back, Donald was able to build unassailable leads on route to victory. As a result of this tournament win, Donald climbed to his highest ever World Ranking position of World Number Three.
Luke Donald
Luke Donald
Luke Donald
Luke Donald
Luke Donald
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