New World No. 2 Luke Donald will join European Ryder Cup captain, Jose Maria Olazabal plotting their way today (MON) around the Medinah course and venue for next month’s Ryder Cup showdown.

Donald returned home to his Chicago residence having lost his No. 1 ranking after finishing well down in 32nd place and 15 strokes behind new World No. 1 Rory McIlroy in the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island.

“Medinah is only about 15to 20 miles from my home and I haven’t played the course since they redid thecourse a year to a year-and-a-half ago,” said Donald.

“It will give me the chance to get familiar with the course and the changes and it will be nice tohave a chat with Jose and see what his thoughts are on everything.

“But more so I am just looking forward to getting more familiar with Medinah.

“So it makes sense to go play it so that I can feel a little more comfortable with the course before the Ryder Cup, so when it comes to that week I have already done my work.

“I will then go back and play the course again the week between the BMW and the Tour Championship.”

And while Donald will seek to get more familiar with Medinah, he will use the practice round in thecompany of Olazabal to no doubt push the course for the selection of Sergio Garcia as one of Olazabal’s two ‘wildcard’ picks.

Garcia is lying 11th,and now one place outside the automatic qualifiers, following the disappointment of missing the cut in the season’s final major and with just one qualifying event remaining before Olazabal names he two picks on Monday 27thAugust.

“Sergio loves the Ryder Cup and missed it two years ago but has since showed a lot more signs of good form, and he is a player who is good in the team room,” said Donald.

“I’ve been with Sergio in two of the three Ryder Cup’s I have played in. He’s very energetic and very upbeat, so he’s good around the team.

“Sergio’s also been goodfor me on the golf course.  His enthusiasm and my own quiet kind of demeanour works well together.

“We are four from four in match-play.”