Jamie could only smile as pal Stenson roared to Open win
WATCHING Henrik Stenson become the new Open Champion at Royal Troon last Sunday, there was nothing Jamie Donaldson could do but smile.
The Welshman was delighted that his Ryder Cup team-mate finally won his first Major, having delivered at every other level in golf.
And he could only marvel at how well Stenson and Phil Mickelson played in the final round – albeit on a course and in conditions which were alien to Donaldson last week.
Jamie was battered and bruised by the elements every single day in Ayrshire and finished a whopping 33 shots behind the super Swede.
But he recognised that to finish 20-under par was a special performance from Stenson.
“It was hilarious to see the final day,” says Jamie. “I had driven home after my round and got back to see the end on TV, obviously hoping Henrik was going to win.
“There was no wind and the sun was out. In the morning, we’d gone out in bobble hats and full waterproofs, hitting into a howling gale! It was a totally different game, but that’s links golf.
“I had the wrong end of the draw every single day, which exaggerated the scoring. In the circumstances, it was good to make the cut.
“Even though Henrik and Phil had benign conditions, they still played unbelievable golf.
“It’s unheard of for Phil to shoot a 65 on the last day of a Major when he started one behind and lose by three.
“Henrik just played phenomenal stuff – ten birdies. But I’ve played with him loads of times down the years and he’s a flusher. He has always been a great player.
“The guy had won most things in golf except a Major. He’s played three Ryder Cups, he’s won the FedEx Cup and other tournaments in America.”
Donaldson and Stenson were teammates in Europe’s Ryder Cup victory at Gleneagles two years ago, but while the Open Champion is nailed on for Hazeltine this time, Donaldson is unlikely to join him, barring an exceptional performance at this week’s US PGA at Baltusrol.
The man who secured the winning point in Perthshire has been caught trying to balance playing in Europe and on the PGA Tour.
The 40-year-old is outside the top 125 for the FedEx Cup play-offs and his World Ranking has slipped to 81st, with just one top-10 finish from his 16 events either side of the Atlantic in 2016.
As a result, he is eyeing a full-time return to the European Tour to reverse his fortunes.
“My season has been pretty average,” he admits. “I’ve played a lot in America to make up ground and haven’t done that.
“There has been a lot of travelling too, I’ve been here, there and everywhere. That has been difficult.
“I did this last year but I was determined to do it better. I wanted to keep going until I got it right but I have been spread too thinly across two Tours.
“I’ve made a lot of cuts but you want to be doing more than that. You want to be competing in the big events but there have been no really high finishes from which I could kick on.”