All eyes can be on Luke Donald’s management in New York within the final week of September as Europe look to assert the primary Ryder Cup win on away soil since Medinah in 2012.
There he was, the lead participant within the singles, the place he would start the comeback with a 2&1 victory over Bubba Watson, and this 12 months he’ll turn into the primary skipper to go back-to-back since Bernard Gallacher in 1995.
Born?
Donald was born in Hemel Hempstead on December 7, 1977, so he can be eligible for the senior circuit for the beginning of the 2028 season. He gained the membership championship at Beaconsfield on the age of 15.
Turned professional?
He turned professional in 2001, having achieved loads within the beginner sport. He performed on two successful Walker Cup sides, contributing 7/8 factors, and he gained the person NCAA Division I Males’s Golf Championships title in 1999, beating Tiger Woods’ scoring file whereas at Northwestern College. He additionally grew to become the primary beginner to win the Chicago Open in 2000.
First professional win?
Donald earned his PGA Tour card for the 2002 season via Q Faculty, and in November of that 12 months 12 months he claimed his first victory on the Southern Farm Bureau Traditional.
He would birdie 15, 16 and 17 on the Saturday for a 67 and one-shot lead over Deane Pappas, after which the ultimate spherical was washed out. He was simply the eleventh rookie in PGA Tour historical past to earn greater than $1 million in his first season.
Married?
He met Diane Antonopoulos whereas at Northwestern, and so they married in Santorini in 2007. They’ve three daughters, and they’re reported to have had houses in each Illinois and Jupiter, Florida.
Automobile?
The Englishman supposedly drives a BMW M4, although, in contrast to lots of his friends, he doesn’t seem to have a fleet of top-range motors tucked away at dwelling.
Favorite sporting groups? Donald has all the time been an enormous Tottenham Hotspur fan, which ties in together with his homeland. Regardless of being an enormous sports activities fan, there are hardly ever any mentions of Donald being a fan of any of the Chicago groups within the States.
Earnings?
His profession PGA Tour earnings are at present simply wanting $38million. In Europe, the determine is simply shy of €17m. Then you will have a raft of sponsorship offers over time.
The previous World No.1 has all the time been with Mizun; there are stories that he used to obtain $1m for simply sporting their brand on his visor, and beforehand he has been with Royal Financial institution of Canada, Zurich Insurance coverage and Polo Ralph Lauren.
In more moderen years, he has been with Jordan footwear and Greyson Clothiers. Donald’s look has all the time been one in all much less is extra, with an enormous slant on elegant and conventional.
Gear?
Donald did have a Ben Hogan visor in his very early days on tour, however by 2003, he was with Mizuno, and he’s been the identical ever since.
The Englishman has all the time been often known as a superb wedge and iron participant, and he would signal a 3rd cope with the Japanese producer as just lately as 2023.
He seems to be to have had a 10-club deal over the 12 months, which suggests he has been free to make use of different drivers, and he has all the time been related to the Odyssey White Sizzling #7 putter.
Then there’s the trademark visor.
Largest achievement?
Donald had 4 stints because the World No. 1, for a complete of 56 weeks, and he final held that coveted spot in the midst of 2012. Solely two male No. 1 golfers have didn’t win a Main, with Donald and Lee Westwood being the 2 to overlook out.
Donald was by no means a prolific winner; there have been simply 5 wins on the PGA Tour, with the WGC-Match Play the stand-out spotlight, whereas in Europe, he was twice victorious round Wentworth. However even with the bias of latest years, his Ryder Cup captaincy in 2023 was higher than something.
He would take over the captaincy in distinctive circumstances from Henrik Stenson and, from there, he by no means missed a beat. If he can repeat the trick at Bethpage Black in late September, it might trump every thing.
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