Donald in familiar spot on course, leaderboard
Four-time runner-up in second at RBC Heritage; Cauley leads at 8 under
Luke Donald has fallen one piece short of winning the RBC Heritage.
Since 2009 he has finished in the top three six times in the tournament, including a tie for second last year.
He shot 6-under-par 65 Thursday in the first round on a Harbour Town Golf Links that demands strategy to get from Point A to Point B. It’s a challenge that Donald welcomes.
“It’s like a puzzle, this course to me,” Donald said this week. “I think you really have to think your way around it very well. You certainly don’t need to overpower this golf course. It’s a strategy — a lot of strategy involved. And certainly it’s in the best condition I’ve ever seen it.”
The course designed by Pete Dye and Jack Nicklaus was hit by Hurricane Matthew last year, displacing about 200 trees. But by all accounts, the course is in great shape this week.
“In certain regards the thinning out of the trees has really helped the condition of the golf course,” Donald said. “It’s always been in great condition, but this year, especially.”
Bud Cauley, 27, who has never won on the PGA Tour, shot 63 to take the lead. He had eight birdies to take a two-shot lead over Donald and Graham DeLaet.
The RBC is a place where Donald feels comfortable. The winner of five PGA Tour victories eagled the par-5 second hole. He knocked his second shot within about 4 feet of the hole and made the putt for eagle.
“I hit a pretty good drive,” he said. “Trying to hit down the left side to open up the angle to that green and just ran into some pine straw, but a pretty good lie and just came out pretty well. Fortunately, that was a good angle to attack that pin. In the middle of the fairway would have been harder. That’s the beauty of this golf course, you’ve got to know where to miss it and where not to miss it. And I think that’s kind of served me well over the years.”
Donald, 39, who was ranked No. 1 in the world in 2011, has held three 54-hole leads at the RBC Heritage (in 2016, 2014 and 2011) and has fallen short. He won’t let the near misses distract him.
“It’s always nice to come back to places you feel comfortable and you’ve had success,” he said. “Obviously, I’ve had a lot of success here in the last eight years. I’ve done everything but win. And it would be nice to give myself another chance to try and finally get over that hurdle.”
With Thursday’s round, Donald has been even par or better in 30 of 32 rounds at Harbour Town.
Johnson to return:
Dustin Johnson’s injured back must be feeling better.
The world’s No. 1 player said he’ll return to the PGA Tour at the May 4-7 Wells Fargo Championships at Eagle Point Golf Club.
Johnson was among the favorites to win the Masters last week after winning three tournaments in a row. But he hurt his back in a fall at his rental home the day before the year’s first major was to start. He withdrew from the tournament with a bad back.