Welshman Jamie Donaldson has moved closer to making his Ryder Cup debut later this year despite left counting the costs of a final hole bogey in the WGC – Cadillac Championship in Miami.
Donaldson was just one shot behind eventual champion Patrick Reed heading to the final hole of the ‘Blue Monster’ course when he leaked his second into a greenside bunker before ending with a bogey five in a round of 70.
Reed, who went into the last day leading by two, also bogeyed the last but it was still good enough in a score of 72 to win a third PGA Tour victory.
Jamie DONALDSON (WAL) during final round at the WGC Cadillac Championship, Blue Monster, Trump National Doral, Miami, Florida,USA.
Picture: Fran Caffrey www.golffile.ie
And at 23 years, seven months and four days, Reed is the youngest-ever winner of a WGC and 26 days younger than Tiger Woods when he captured the inaugural 1999 WGC – Bridgestone Invitational.
The 38 year old Donaldson had moved to within one of Reed after a magnificent approach to the 17th left him a tap-in birdie.
The Welshman joined former Masters Tournament winner Watson in the clubhouse on three under, with Reed still needing to negotiate a 55 foot birdie putt on the 17th and the Blue Monster’s daunting 18th, where Martin Kaymer carded the only birdie of the final round.
Reed knocked his effort on the 17th to tap-in range to erase any concerns of a three-putt bogey, then laid up at the last and two putted for victory in his first WGC stroke-play event, having made his debut at the recent Accenture Match Play Championship.
“I played really well all week,” said Donaldson, whose previous best WGC finish came when he was eighth at last year’s HSBC Champions.
“My long game was really good from tee to green. I think in the end, it’s come down to not quite holing enough putts, but I hit a lot of good putts this week and sometimes they just don’t go in.
“I’m happy with the week overall.
“I’ve gone out there and played as well as I can, and shot as low a score as I can in the conditions that we’ve had to play in all week, and that’s all I can do really.
“It’s nice to come here and have a great week on what is a very tough golf course.”
Donaldson’s prize cheque will be enough to afford him ‘Affiliate Membership’ on the PGA Tour and thus opening the door for the 38-year old to compete more in the States.
“I’ve got definites of playing Bay Hill and the EurAsia Cup, and what else – the Masters, that small event (laughter) then the Heritage, then Wells Fargo, Players, and home for Wentworth.
Texas-born Patrick Reed becomes youngest-ever winner of a WGC and breaking Tiger Woods 1999 record by 26 days. (Photo – Fran Cafrrey/www.golffile.ie)
“That was the plan. If that enables me to play more in the States, I might squeeze in one or two more, I don’t know.”
But what Donaldson does know that he has taken a huge step towards playing in Paul McGinley’s European Team later this year.
His effort in Miami will see Donaldson more than likely move from seventh overall on the Ryder Cup points table to second overall on the European Points list.
And Donaldson, who arrived in Miami lying 30th on the World Rankings, will now move to just outside the top-20 with his effort.
“This result is a big step for me in terms of the Ryder Cup,” he said.
“I need to have good weeks towards that as it’s in my plans even though I am not thinking much about it.
“To get on that team will be just cool.
“I don’t know what I have to do to get it in the side, as I haven’t been paying attention. I have just been trying to play as well as I can and just try to put myself in position more often to win tournaments and do better in America.”
Reed has now won three of his last 14 US PGA Tour events, and set himself some lofty targets after becoming the youngest player to win a WGC event.
“To come out here and play as well as I did, especially at my first World Golf Championships event, and to play the way I did with Tiger close to the lead and Hunter Mahan really close, Jason Dufner all those great guys that are Major winners who have been on Ryder Cup teams, who are just outstanding players, and to go wire to wire in a field like this just means a lot,” he said.
“I have a lot of confidence in my game. It’s one of those things that you build confidence by how hard you work, and I feel like I’m one of the hardest workers out here and it definitely shows; I have three wins in 14 starts, especially in a field like this, to go wire to wire.
“It’s just one of those things that I feel like with how hard I’ve worked, I’m working my way up to become a top five player in the world. I’m just going to take a little time in the fact that I haven’t been on the PGA Tour for very long.”
There were plenty of other impressive displays from European Tour Members on the final day, with South African Richard Sterne sharing fourth with Dustin Johnson on level par after a closing 71.
Thongchai Jaidee and Dubai Desert Classic winner Stephen Gallacher were a shot further back after rounds of 68 and 69 respectively, with Major Champions Charl Schwartzel and Graeme McDowell also posting top-ten finishes.
