Donald eyes elusive Heritage win after finishing second four times
● Former world No 1 inspired by Garcia and hasn’t given up on winning a major
Former world No 1 Luke Donald hopes to slot the final piece of the puzzle into place by claiming an overdue victory in the RBC Heritage this week.
Donald has recorded six top-threes in his last 11 starts at Harbour Town Golf Links, including finishing runnerup in 2016, 2014, 2011 and 2009.
The 39-year-old took a oneshot lead into the final round 12 months ago, but could only card a closing 71 as South Africa’sbrandengracefireda67to claim his first PGA Tour title.
It was the third time Donald failed to convert a 54-hole lead into a win in the event, in which 29 of his last 31 rounds have been level par or better.
“I’m always excited to come here, I love this event,” the world No 96 told a pre-tournament press conference. “It’s certainly a course that suits my game.
“I’ve had a lot of success in the last eight years, I’ve done everything but win. It’s like a puzzle, this course to me. I think you really have to think your way around it very well. You certainly don’t need to overpower this golf course.
“A lot of strategy is involved and certainly it’s in the best condition I’ve ever seen it, despite the hurricane [hundreds of trees were downed by Hurricane Matthew last year]. In certain regards the thinning out of the trees has really helped the condition of the golf course.”
Donald’s best finish in six events this season is a tie for 17th in the Genesis Open and he comes into the week on the back of a tie for 69th in the Houston Open.
For the second year running he failed to qualify for the Masters and added: “I was disappointed not to be playing last week in Augusta.
“This last month has been kind of a strange run of events for me. I didn’t play well at Tampa, which is usually a good event for me, which was disappointing. And then I wasn’t in the Match Play, I wasn’t in Augusta. So I added Houston, which I’ve never really played very well at.
“It’s not the greatest run up to this event that I’ve ever had, but there were certainly some weeks on the West Coast and in Florida where I was very, very encouraged about my game. I’ve certainly been working hard and hopefully coming back to a place like this where I’ve had some success I can get it going.”
Donald was delighted to see his good friend Sergio Garcia win the Masters last week and has taken encouragement 0 Luke Donald: Described the Harbour course as ‘a puzzle’. from the Spaniard claiming his first major at the 74th attempt.
“I still believe that I have the ability to win a major and win more tournaments,” Donald, who has played 53 majors, said. “I’m not hanging up the clubs yet. I’m very committed to working hard on the game and getting past a little bit of a lull in my results the last couple of years.
“It’s certainly not been the golf that I wanted. But I’m working hard on it. And I still believe that I’m good enough. Anyone who can get to number one in the world for over a year I think has the ability to bounce back and hopefully I will.”
Eight of the top 30 in the world rankings are competing in South Carolina, including 2016 Masters champion Danny Willett and Scotland’s Russell Knox, who finished tied second with Donald last year.
On the European Tour, South Korea’s Jeunghun Wang will seek to defend his Trophee Hassan II title at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam in Rabat this week.
Wang won his maiden European Tour title in Morocco last year by beating Spain’s Nacho Elvira in a play-off.
The last six winners of the event – Wang, Richie Ramsay, Alejandro Canizares, Marcel Siem, Michael Hoey and David Horsey – are all in the field.
Aberdeen’s Ramsay opted not to defend his title last year in order to spend time with his baby daughter. Kirsty Brodie fired four birdies in her closing seven holes to secure a share of the lead after day one of the Scottish Girls’ Open Championship.
The Strathmore teenager found her form over the Medal Course at Montrose to post a one-underpar 72 in testing, windy conditions in Angus. Having dropped three shots early on, it was a notable comeback by the Scot, who shares the early lead with the German, Hannah Leonie Karg.
On a congested leaderboard, five players are in a group a shot further back, including another Scot, Jillian Farrell. The recent winner of the Junior Tour event at Forrester Park mixed six birdies and bogeys in her level par round 73.
“It was a bit crazy, up and down,” admitted Cardross’ Farrell, who is coached by her father and professional, Robert.
“I played well, though, just made a couple of mistakes when I missed greens and didn’t get up and down. It was tough in the wind, but you could take advantage of some of the par-5s downwind.
“I’m pleased, it’s a good start and I’ll look to keep it up.”
At the Scottish Boys’ Open Championship taking place down the road at Monifieth, it’s an Icelandic one-two at the top.
Despite making their first visit to Scotland, 16-yearolds Ingvar Magnusson (69) and Daniel Isak Steinarsson (70) found the links to their liking as they both posted creditable under par rounds in the breezy weather.
“We are pretty used to the wind,” joked Magnusson. “Football is the most popular sport in Iceland, and our golf season is only really from May to August, but we’re hoping to do well here in Scotland.”
Of the fancied home hopefuls, last year’s Scottish Boys Order of Merit champion Jamie Stewart of Old Ranfurly struggled to a three-over-par 74, as he competes in what is likely to be his last boys’ event.
He said: “The back nine was brutal in the wind.”
Last year’s Scottish Boys’ matchplay champion, Eric Mcintosh, also posted a 74.