Can Luke Donald rise to the top at this year’s WGC-HSBC Champions?
Luke Donald may not be the world number one anymore but he is still a force to reckon with on the golf course. This year, the Englishman has not had the best of years by his standard.
Although he is still ranked number three in the world but, considering his standard, it has been a quiet year for Donald.
Donald has been a consistent performer this year on the PGA Tour. He has made cuts in 16 of the 17 tournaments. However, Donald could not transform his consistency in to victories, like last year, where he absolutely dazzled the field in America and in Europe
as well.
Luke Donald wrote the history books last year when he topped the money tour list, both, on the PGA and the European Tour.
Nevertheless, this year has been a little disappointing for the Englishman, as he could not win a major trophy.
The former world number one has achieved almost everything that was on offer apart from the majors and this keeps him away from that exclusive list of golfers.
He has come close to winning a major but, for some reason or the other, he could not deliver. Many say that he and Lee Westwood are the finest players to have never won a major.
However, this year he has a chance to finish the season on a high note by taking the WGC-HSBC Championship.
HSBC Championship is played annually in China. It is one of the four WGC events that take place. The $ 7 million event was granted the WGC status in 2009.
However, this year the course for the event has been changed and it will now be played on the Mission Hills golf club in Shenzhen.
The golf course is designed by Jose Maria Olazabal. It will not be easy for Luke to claim victory at the Mission Hills Golf Club, as only the best of the best take part in WGC events.
The former world number one would be up against the challenge from the likes of of Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Bubba Watson, Webb Simpson and all other top golfers that ply their trade on European and PGA tours.
The two-time champion, Phil Mickelson will also be seen in action, along with the defending champion, Martin Kaymer. For Kaymer, defending the title will not be that easy as the golf course has changed.
"It is a little bit of a disadvantage to be defending my title on a different course," added Kaymer, "but I really liked the Olazabal Course when I played the World Cup there in 2009 so I am looking forward to returning and seeing if I can mount a successful
defence of this prestigious title".
So far, Luke’s performances have gone unnoticed this year. That is basically due to the magnificent showing of Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods.
The media has sort of built up a new rivalry in the golfing world, in the name of Rory Vs Tiger. This has shadowed the good work done by Luke Donald.
This might, in the end, play to the Englishman’s advantage as the pressure to perform would be off his shoulders. The former world number one certainly has the game and skill to nail this event.
What he basically needs to do is start well. Donald has been finishing the tournaments brilliantly, it is the just the slow start of his that costs him the title in the end.
At the Open Championship, Donald started slowly but he finished pretty well for a T5 finish.
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