Luke Donald has made a late plea to European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley reminding him his experience of never being a member of a losing European Team is deserving next Tuesday of a Gleneagles ‘wildcard’ pick.
Donald, and one of some seven players in the mix for a pick, showed a return to form posting a two under par 69 on the opening day of the Deutsche Bank Championship in Boston..
The Englishman has been on four straight victorious European sides from 2004 to Medinah in 2012 when he pulled off one of the shots of the encounter at the 17th on Saturday when he and Sergio humbled Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker.
Luke Donald shoots 69 day one 2014 TPC Boston as he looks for a Gleneagles ‘wildcard’ pick. (Photo – www.pgatour.com)
Twice before in 2004 and 2010 Donald’s needed a ‘wildcard’ pick and with the Chicago-based golfer, who is currently lying 11th on the points table and has not set foot onto Gleneagles, now relying on another pick come 12.30pm next Tuesday.
“I’ve got two aims playing this week in Boston and that is have a solid week so I can progress to Denver next week and second hopefully show Captain McGinley a little bit of form,” said Donald.
“I still feel like I can be a valuable part of his team and hopefully he sees that, as well.”
Donald, who has a best of second this year in The Heritage at Hilton Head was further asked if he felt at present he was on the outside looking in or the inside looking out with regards to a pick.
“I keep asking myself one question that Paul might ask and that’s who would he rather have on Sunday of the Ryder Cup trying to win a point for his team?” he said.
“Obviously, I have a lot of experience and I hope that is going to count for a lot but then it’s also wise to pick on form and my form hasn’t been the best.
“Hopefully, I am on the inside looking out and if I can just throw in a solid tournament this week and hopefully comfort McGinley in making that choice a little easier.”
One of McGinley’s three picks is certain to be Ian Poulter, and with Graeme McDowell seemingly spot on in suggesting last week in New Jersey: “Paul (McGinley) has two picks and Ian Poulter”.
Then there was Lee Westwood also last week remarking: “Poulter should get a life time exemption into the Ryder Cup.”
But then Poulter, who posted a first round four under par 67 to be two shots behind American Keegan Bradley, was trying not to get wrapped-up in the Ryder Cup.
“The Ryder Cup is on everyone’s radar as everyone wants to play in it, and I want to be a part of the team again, as well,” he said.
“But then you don’t have to ask me about the Ryder Cup because I am solely focussed on being ruthless this week and I can’t do anything about the Ryder Cup as it’s in somebody else’scan hands.
“I spoke Paul at the PGA Championship, so I just need to do my job and that is just play good golf so it was nice to go out there today and shoot four under par.
“I’ve done what I can in trying to qualify automatically and it wasn’t good enough, so now everybody is talking about three, four or five guys so that’s who you’d expect.
“But while I’ve heard those comments about me and also Westie’s (Westwood) remark sitting there in the press room last time at Medinah which was pretty funny at the time, my record in the Ryder Cup is pretty good.
“So I’m not thinking about it and all I want to do is play golf. It’s been an awful year and I want it to turn around right now.”
World No. 1 Rory McIlroy, and winner two years ago in Boston, posted a one under par 70.
