A spectacular year comes to an end as Luke Donald surges as the most successful player of the year
It has been a thrilling year for the 34-year-old Englishman Luke Donald, probably one of the best years of his career so far, where he won no fewer than four titles on both sides of the Atlantic. Not just that, Donald pulled in the unprecedented feat of
soaring as the money leader on both PGA Tour and the European Tour and was named Golfer of the Year, also on both PGA Tour and the European Tour.
Donald, often mimicked as “Luke” synonymous to his name, started off the year with a thrilling victory at the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship in Tucson, Arizona. He defeated Martin Kaymer in the final round in a format he has been a blistering success
since his amateur career. Donald was named European Tour Golfer of the Month in February.
“I’m very pleased and proud to have won this award, especially considering the incredible talent competing for the honour,” said Donald after receiving the award. “I was delighted with my recent win at the WGC-Accenture World Match Play and I look forward
to building on that early-season victory for a strong season.”
The Englishman continued with his rampage on both continents, playing relentlessly in every tournament he could manage. He went over to post a strong joint fourth finish at the coveted Masters in Augusta National, further improving his ranking on the Official
World Golf Rankings (OWGR). By this time, he had now successfully poised himself behind the then world number one Lee Westwood, threatening his position at the top of the OWGR.
The US Open bid at the Congressional proved to be an anti-climax, as the Englishman was still in search of his maiden major title, finishing for a disappointing joint 45. He missed the cut at the Open Championship at the Royal St. Georges but shot back to
stardom at the BMW PGA Championship where he thrashed Westwood on the first Playoff to win the title, thereby surging to the world number one spot for the first time in his career.
He was again nominated for the 2011 Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of the Month for his victory in the BMW PGA Championship and further strengthened his position on the top of the Race to Dubai Money List with a winner’s share of €750,000.
Donald, by this time, has soared to the top of the money lists on both PGA and European Tours and attempted to finish the year on top, to mark an unprecedented feat in the history of the sport. He was toppled from the FedExCup Money List by the rampaging
Webb Simpson at the closing of the year, but Donald pulled in a spectacular victory at the Children’s Miracle Network Hospital Classic to reclaim his spot at the top.
He finished for a joint third at the closing event on the European Tour, the Dubai World Championship last week to surge as the only man in the history to summit the money lists on both sides of the Atlantic.
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