After being mauled by the Blue Monster in Miami, Luke Donald is now looking to take the sting out of the ‘Snake Pit’ in Tampa.
The former World No. 1 ended his WGC – Cadillac Championship campaign with three back nine birdies in a final round 69 for a mid-field finish on five-over par.
It left the Chicago-based Brit eventually sharing 25th place on five over par.
Hurting Donald was a horror second round 82 in Friday’s blustery condition and his worst score in the States in 11 years.
However Donald now looks forward to teeing-up in this week’s $US 5.7m Valspar Championship and an event he won two years ago, and an Innsbrook course boasting the toughest closing three holes on the PGA Tour and affectionately known at ‘The Snake Pit’.
Luke Donald has fond memories of his 2012 PGA Tour win at Tampa. (Photo – www.pgatour.com)
“I was one round of 82 away from a good tournament this week,” said Donald.
“I just struggled on Friday but from not playing that poorly but just the conditions we had to face but then I had three other pretty good rounds I can take with me to Tampa.
“I have good memories of Tampa having won there in 2012 and I was fourth there last year, so it’s a place I have played well around and I also enjoy the course.
“But then this Miami tournament used to be a lot more easy going but now after the changes it’s full on every shot and there’s more thinking involved.
“So with the last two weeks being pretty tough, mentally and physically, I’m heading back to Tampa really looking forward to the week.”
Two years ago the event was named the Transitions Championship and Donald came through a four-man play-off to return to No. 1 in the world.
It prompted out-going World No. 1 Rory McIlroy to tweet: “Well I enjoyed it while it lasted! Congrats @LukeDonald! Impressive performacne.”
Donald had closed with a 5-under 66 and at the first extra hole played a super 7-iron out of the right rough and over a bunker to 6 feet below the cup for birdie to beat Jim Furyk, Robert Garrigus and Sang-Moon Bae.
It was Donald’s fifth win in his last 31 starts around the world and saw him head to Augusta National as No. 1 in the world.
And before Donald left Miami he revealed his wife, Dianne is expecting the couples third child in late June.
