MEDINAH, 21 August 2006 — It was a triumph in itself. Luke Donald set out with Tiger Woods in the final group in the final round of the USPGA Championship here last night knowing that whatever was to unfold he had already cleared one obstacle.
Not as imposing a one as the world No. 1, perhaps. But an important one, nevertheless.
This was the first time the Englishman had been in contention in a major after 54 holes. His third at The Masters hints that he had, but in fact 18 months ago he merely ran past “dead horses” to snatch a distant placing.
Otherwise his best finish has been 12th in this year’s US Open. Again, he flew in late at Winged Foot, landing on the fringes without a genuine sniff of victory.
What had been different about Donald’s first three rounds here was the absence of what in golf they like to call the “stinker.” The 28-year-old’s short major career to date had been defined by the bad rounds he had thrown in before the business end of the tournament. In 2005 it always seemed to happen in the second or third rounds, while this year he had at least killed his hopes off mercifully quick when botching up his opening 18.
Until now, of course.
Before his prime-time tee-off time yesterday, Donald was quite certain what this represented. “I haven’t been in serious contention in a major before,” he said. “I played decently at Augusta last year, but I was sill quite a few shots away from Tiger and Chris DiMarco. This is where I want to be and this is what I need to do if I want to realize my dream and become the best player in the world.” It was a bold statement - and some might suggest “daft,” seeing as he was just about to take on the player who had never once lost a major when in the lead or sharing the lead after 54 holes - but one that has become familiar coming from the lips of this modest man. Donald had put in a lot of couch time with his mind doctor, Jim Fannin, coming into the USPGA and the technique of the celebrated “ZoneCoach” in making his clients accept that unless they believe they are the best, they never will be, has been as obvious as ever this week. “I’ve been working with Jim really hard this week,” admitted Donald, “and so far I’ve managed to be really positive and keep my head up. And it’s helped all the local support I’ve had this week.
It’s been fun and it’s motivated me, for sure.” It could not have failed to as the cheers for Donald were truly rousing on Saturday night. As a Chicago resident of more than nine years’ standing, Donald is a popular figure in the Windy City which, like all American cities, regards former pupils of their state college as one of their own.
The connection applies especially so with Donald, and not just because he has set up permanent home here with his girlfriend, Diane. His coach, Pat Goss, is the head of golf at Northwestern University and this week has been as vocal as any in urging on his student. “There have been a whole lot of ‘Loooookes’ out there,” he said yesterday.
“I must admit, one or two might have come from me.” Goss said it with a burst of nervous laughter, and that was understandable because he knew what was riding on last night’s proceedings. But, like any coach who meticulously plots improvement, he also appreciated what had already been achieved.
“This was the next progression of Luke’s career,” he said. “He’s won PGA Tour events. He’s had high finishes in majors, but he’s never contended in one. This was the next step and whatever happens he will be the better for it.” Donald also hopes that there are those who will be better informed after his first three rounds at Medinah. Being the longest layout in major history at 7,561 yards, many had written off this supposed weakling.
“I’m really not that short,” he said. “Many in the media keep saying that I’m a short-hitter but that’s only in comparison to Tiger. I’ve been averaging 290 yards off the tee, and getting to 14-under after 54 holes on such a lengthy course tells its own story. I haven’t been able to get up on the par-fives, but otherwise I haven’t used anything longer than a five-iron in, apart from one or two of the 200-plus yards par-threes. It shows there aren’t any courses I should really be ruled out on.”
Indeed, Donald should really be ruled a contender for one and all majors henceforth, judging purely on Saturday’s 66. It was the afternoon he at last played himself into the limelight. Last night he was trying to survive its intensity.
