Luke Donald reclaims number one spot in the world rankings after Transitions Championship victory – Golf News
Luke Donald, the man who faded in his past wins and consistent performances, again grabbed the headlines after reclaiming his number one spot in the Official World Golf Rankings on Sunday, March 18, 2012.
During 2011, Donald won both the European and the PGA Tour money list titles to become the first man in history of golf to receive both the awards in one year.
The same year witnessed him surge to the top of the OWGR, with 24 top-10s that included four wins in total in the 2011 golf season.
However, he seemed to lose his consistency in the opening few tournaments of the 2012 season and Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy took advantage of it.
McIlroy won the Honda classic early this month and replaced Donald on top of the world rankings.
McIlroy then decided to take three weeks off prior to the Masters Tournament scheduled in April.
It was a time when Donald had a chance to take advantage of his absence. Therefore, he participated in the Transitions Championship and registered his first victory of the season.
Donald carded a bogey-free five-under par 66 in the final round to share the lead with Jim Furyk, Sang-Moon Bae and Robert Garrigus.
Therefore, the game was forced to enter the playoffs and Donald won the tournament with a birdie on first extra hole.
When he was asked by the reporters about his number one spot in the world rankings, he replied by saying that his focus was to earn a victory in the event and he did not think much about the rankings.
Donald also told how he played the 18th hole, as he was the only one among the final four to miss the fairway on the tee.
Moreover, he was lucky in the end as Bae and Furyk missed the birdie putts on the 18th hole, which could have earned them the victory.
"I didn't watch any of the other guys (putt)," Donald said.
"I looked at the putt and knew it was pretty much left edge, and I stuck with that. When (Garrigus) missed, I knew I had a golden opportunity. I thought to myself, 'You've been ranked No. 1 in putting the last three years. Just hit it in'".
Donald now says that his next target is to earn a victory in the major championship.
Therefore, he is in good form these days and will try to achieve his goal in the upcoming Masters Tournament.
Tags: