Greensboro, North Carolina … England’s Luke Donald is determined to remind European Ryder Cup captain, Darren Clarke of his imposing Team record heading to the final round of the Wyndham Championship.
For nearly four years, Donald has been like the forgotten man of European Ryder competition given he failed to qualify automatically for the 2014 European Team.
In fact, Donald boasts a record bettered by no other European Team member and that is proudly having played in four European Teams and savouring four victories. The very affable Englishman has never tasted defeat having made his debut in 2004 and then played in the victorious 2006, 2010 and 2012 Euro sides.
Donald’s individual record is also just as impressive having won 10 matches, lost four and drawn one.
However an indifferent second half this season has seen the Florida-based Brit miss the cut in four of his last six PGA Tour events after finishing a best of T2nd in April’s RBC Heritage.
Luke Donald looking to impress European Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke with a round to play in the Wydnham Championship. (Photo – www.pgatour.com)
But Donald could be about to turn that all around after an impressive third round 64 to move into a share of third place at 13-under par heading to the final round of the Wyndham Championship here in Greensboro.
Donald teed-up in North Carolina lying well back in 33rd place on the European Ryder Cup ‘World’ points table and with no chance of qualifying automatically even if he should capture what would be a fifth career PGA Tour title.
However victory, or for that matter a top-three finish, would put him close to fellow Ryder Cup stars Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer who also will not qualify automatically given the Wyndham Championship is the last event on the PGA Tour those Europeans competing in the States could qualify via the ‘World’ points list.
Donald, who had been invited by Clarke to join a group of European ‘probable’ and ‘possibles’ during May’s Players Championship, was asked about his chances following today’s third round.
“I think I have the best record in European history as a player,” he said.
“Obviously I’ll bring a lot of experience.
“But then will I need to win probably tomorrow and probably need to have a good chance to win next week’s Barclays to have a chance of earning a captain’s pick.
“Hopefully if I can win tomorrow I’ll catch some. Obviously I’ll bring a lot of experience, I think the best record in European history as a player.
“So, I’d love to hopefully have the option but I need to finish strongly. I need to win probably tomorrow and I probably need to have a good chance to win in Barclays to have a chance, I would think.”
