Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Golf-Donald just aching to break his duck in majors

VIRGINIA WATER, England, May 23 (Reuters) - Luke Donald has

topped the world rankings on three occasions and lifted a host

of leading honours and titles but one thing continues to bug him

- the lack of a major championship victory.

"I want to win majors - that's the thing missing from my

resume," the Briton told reporters on the eve of the PGA

Championship at Wentworth.

Donald enjoyed a bitter-sweet night at a European Tour

dinner on Tuesday evening.

He received his 2011 Player of the Year and Golf Writers'

trophies but was once again reminded of his lack of a

breakthrough major crown.

"I was very jealous to see some of those trophies and some

of those guys last night," said Donald. "Watching them, it's

motivating.

"It's kind of inspirational seeing some of those video

montages and just seeing what a lot of us (tour players) have

achieved over the last few years.

"It's motivating to get yourself to work harder to try and

achieve that," he added referring to the likes of 2011 U.S. Open

champion Rory McIlroy and last year's British Open winner Darren

Clarke. "Hopefully that will happen."

Donald has had a few close calls in the majors, twice

finishing in the top four at the U.S. Masters, coming joint

fifth at the 2009 British Open and tied third at the 2006 U.S.

PGA Championship.

He acknowledges that perhaps, on occasion, he has tried too

hard to get across the finishing line first in one of golf's

elite four tournaments.

"In majors there is more pressure, more expectation," said

Donald. "You have to learn to deal with that.

MORE UPTIGHT

"I am learning I get more uptight in them. I want to win so

badly that sometimes that gets in the way.

"I just have to learn to relax and deal with that. I know I

have the ability to win one, it's just kind of managing those

expectations and approaching it with the right attitude."

Donald, who has also been awarded Honorary Life Membership

of the European Tour after his unique feat in winning the orders

of merit on both sides of the Atlantic last season, says he is

so competitive he can hardly take losing to his young daughter.

"My wife would tell you, daily things like chasing my

daughter up to the top of the stairs, I don't like to let her

win - and she's two years old," said the 34-year-old Englishman

to roars of laughter.

"I'll pull her back if I have to," he said half-jokingly.

"It's just that competitive streak in me I suppose."

Donald and fellow Briton McIlroy have had a ding-dong battle

at the top of the rankings this season and he said their rivalry

was a typical example of artiste v artisan.

"I think Rory is one of the most naturally gifted players

there is," he said of the world number one from Northern

Ireland. "He just has that look about him, he is free-flowing,

hits the ball far and it just seems really effortless.

"I feel like personally if I don't work hard and grind it

out, I'm not going to be that successful. It's just not that

easy for me.

"I can't take weeks off, come back and expect to hit it

well. It takes a lot of work, a lot of effort - that's how I've

been able to be successful," added Donald.

(Editing by Justin Palmer)

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