Donald ready for 2016 after Harbour Town showing
Luke back in form with tied 2nd place at his favourite US layout.
Picture: Getty Images
Luke Donald demonstrated that his game is good shape for 2016 with a 66 – 71 – 69 – 71 sequence to finish runner up at The Heritage on the US PGA Tour this Sunday.
Donald has now finished runner up four times, with six top-3 finishes at Harbour Town. This throwback layout with its tight fairways and small greens is by far Donald’s favourite venue on the PGA Tour – a layout that generally dictates the kind of season he can expect. When Donald ranks well at Harbour Town, it’s a sign that his laser like MP-5 iron play and precision S5 wedge short game are at their sharpest.
“It’s a classic golf course,” Donald said. “It’s one you have to really manage your game around. You have to think your way around very well. And obviously the greens are the smallest greens we’ll play all year.
“It’s tough to hit a lot of greens . And because of that you need a good short game. And obviously that’s certainly true over the last few years. I love the fact that it’s a positional golf course, rather than one that demands length.”
On Saturday night Donald held a one shot lead and planned to be aggressive on Sunday. A run of pars on the opening six holes, allowed the field to come back to him. Donald hit the lead for the last time with a ninth-hole birdie, but fell back to 7 under to finish runner up.
Runner up moved Donald closer to the all important world top 50 and a chance to re-establish himself at the top level of the game.
Watch Luke Donald’s visit to Mizuno’s forging plant.
Donald’s MP-5 irons