Golf:Luke Donald was named European Tour Golfer of the Month for February following his victory in the WGC-Accenture Matchplay Championship at Dove Mountain in Arizona.
The 33-year-old, who was never behind in any of his six matches, displayed a showcase of fine matchplay golf, a format in which he has excelled since his amateur years.
Donald did not play the 18th hole once as he saw off American Charley Hoffman, Italians Edoardo Molinari and Matteo Manassero, Ryan Moore and Matt Kuchar, both of the United States, to set up a mouth-watering final against 2010 Ryder Cup team-mate Martin Kaymer.
Despite it being only his second event of the year, Donald’s impressively accurate short game and exquisite touch around the greens were in evidence as he beat the German, who the day before had officially become the new world number one.
It was Donald’s fourth victory on the European Tour international schedule – and first in a World Golf Championship event – and it propelled him from ninth to a career-high third in the world rankings, behind Kaymer and Lee Westwood and one ahead of Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell.
“I’m very pleased and proud to have won this award, especially considering the incredible talent competing for the honour,” said Donald. “I was delighted with my recent win at the WGC-Accenture World Matchplay and I look forward to building on that early-season victory for a strong season.”
Donald’s record in match play is magnificent and in Arizona he showed just why he is one of the world’s most feared opponents in the format. Last October he won three points from four in Ryder Cup, continuing his 100 per cent record playing on winning teams, having won in 2004 and 2006. In total, he has played 11 Ryder Cup matches, won eight, halved one and lost two.
All the monthly winners will be considered for the Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of the Year, which was won jointly by Kaymer and McDowell in 2010.
