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Sunday, June 19, 2011

Golf: Donald pays the price for climb to No. 1


Luke Donald's march to the World No. 1 rankings, culminated three weeks ago with a victory at the European PGA Championship, has cost him dearly in his quest for his first major title. -- PHOTO: AFP

BETHESDA (Maryland) - LUKE Donald's march to the World No. 1 rankings, culminated three weeks ago with a victory at the European PGA Championship, has cost him dearly in his quest for his first major title.

The Englishman fired a three-over par 74 at Congressional Country Club on Saturday in the third round of the US Open to stand on seven-over for the tournament, out of contention at an event where he never found his best form.


'I just haven't played consistently enough,' Donald said. 'The first few days I didn't hit enough fairways. I had a bad start. Just not quite sharp enough, and you pay the price of it at the US Open.

'I actually played all right. I just didn't make the cut.' Well, actually, Donald did make the cut on the number. But Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy lapping the field and fatigue setting in, Donald figures he might as well be watching the weekend on television.

Donald won the European PGA Championship three weeks ago, downing England's Lee Westwood in a playoff to dethrone the ranking leader and claim the spot for the first time in his career.

Donald had closed the gap on the top spot by winning the World Golf Championships Match-Play Championship in February and nearly captured the top ranking in April, losing in a playoff at the Heritage where a win would have made him No. 1. -- AFP

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