Former European and PGA No. 1 Luke Donald has quit long-time managers IMG to sign with Lagardère Unlimited.

Donald will be represented by  Lagardère’s Steve Loy who also manages five-time Major winning Phil Mickelson.

Donald’s deal with IMG Golf expired at the end of 2013, and the Englishman chose to move to the ever increasing  Lagardère stable in 2014 along with Jamie Lovemark and Ricky Barnes.  The company also run several Web.com events and corporate outings with Tour players.

“I’m someone that doesn’t like a lot of change in general, and I preface by saying that IMG managed me very well and represented me very well for 11 years,” said Donald.

“The management scene has really changed a lot in the last five years or so.  There’s a lot of more choice out there.

“The impetus for change really was since John Wagnere left IMG couple of years ago. It was a bit of a change in some of the people that came and went at IMG, and I just felt it hard to find a manager that I was comfortable with, and that really was the only reason.”

The lastest acquisitions bring to 45 the number of players Lagardère now represent on the PGA Tour and another 20 and easily surpassing that of rivals IMG.

Lagardère took over Crown Sports Management in October which included its stable of 25 golfers and brought in Jay Danzi, who manages future Major prospect Jordan Spieth.

Company chief Andy Pierce has also taken on well known Irish ex-player Roddy Carr to assist in growing a European and Asian golf consultancy.

Donald commences his 2014 season teeing-up in this week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.  However it was a nightmare journey from Chicago to the UAE capital for the Englishman.

He went onto Twitter to remark:  “Travel Update – Been in Washington Dulles airport for 12 hours! Thankfully on board now and ready to go #Another12HoursInTheAir”

And finally upon arrival in Abu Dhabi:  “Luke Donald ‏@LukeDonald19h  Whoa that was a long travel day (& a half!) just touched down in Abu Dhabi”