News: TOUR Notes
December 13 2011
5:30 pm
Donald’s consistency key to POY award
By Mike McAllister, PGATOUR.COM
For the second consecutive year, the PGA TOUR Player of the Year was won by a player who did not claim a major championship.
But unlike Jim Furyk, who won three events along with the FedExCup in 2010 en route to earning the season-ending award, Luke Donald didn’t even have those lofty credentials on his resume in 2011. But he did produce something that was the envy of all others on TOUR this year: Consistency.
Not only did Donald win two events, he finished in the top 10 in 12 of his other 17 starts (including two runner-ups and two third-place finishes). No other player could match Donald’s 14 top-10s this year. And he played just as well in Europe, as he became the first dual-member to win money titles on the PGA TOUR and European Tour in the same year.
That made it extremely difficult for his fellow TOUR pros to ignore.
"I feel like I’ve always built my game around being consistent," Donald said Tuesday after the announcement in which he became the first Englishman to win the TOUR’s Player of the Year award. "I think having a proficient short game and a reasonably consistent putter will always make a year reasonably consistent, no matter how you play. It’s a big equalizer. It really can make up a lot for some bad long game."
Not that his game was bad off the tee — just short. He ranked 147th in driving distance but 57th in accuracy. The closer he got to the pin, however, the better he played — 41st in Greens In Regulation and first overall in Strokes Gained-Putting.
"For a number of years, my long game wasn’t where I wanted it to be," Donald said. "I’ve certainly made big strides this year. I think my driving accuracy percentages, my greens in regulation percentages have all gone up. My short game has stayed at a consistent level. That’s really been the difference this year, I think, in terms of my overall consistency, just taking it from where I maybe would not miss many cuts but finished 20th, 25th a lot, taking those to top 10s and five 5s and having chances to win.
"Obviously every year you’re just trying to look for ways to improve, and I obviously found a place to improve on, and it’s really served me well in terms of consistency."
Donald called his 2011 season a "breakout year" and said that becoming the first player to win both money titles was "something very special."
But he also knows an asterisk will remain attached to his name until he wins his first major. Having produced an historical achievement in 2011, the 34-year-old Donald is intent on producing a more personal kind of achievement in 2012.
"Obviously this year has been a breakout year for me in terms of my confidence levels, and hopefully those confidence levels will be carried over to next year and will serve me well in the majors," Donald said. "I think before this year I’ve been a good player and a consistent player but never really a great player, and obviously this year has been really a big step for me in terms of my mental side and the way I approach tournaments and how I feel about them.
"I can only think that that will serve me well for the majors next year, and I’m certainly looking forward to the challenge."
MORE ON DONALD: Announcement | By The Numbers | Transcript
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Best player in the world, has to win a major next year or the year after. Too good not to.
He is 34, and that doesn’t necessarily mean anything nowadays, but he has trended elite for over 2 seasons now, historically these guys don’t keep it going at that level for much longer before they tail off a bit. I would like to see Luke turn the corner next season with a Major, Augusta, I believe is his best chance. GO LUKE!!!
Donald has been in and around the top 10 for many years apart from the year that he got injured.
He’s finally got the confidence that he can win, he’s never won more than this year. It suggests to me that he is finally in his peak and believes that he is the best. He is a modest guy and lacks the self-belief of Phil, Tiger and Rory for example. Not easy to be the best and be a nice guy, hopefully Luke proves that you can.
best player in the world is Yani Seng…not Luke Donald.
Rory 66 in Dubai, Donald only 72. Race is on.
Hopefully if McIlroy actually goes on and wins this then people might shut up for a while. Major, two wins and the money list for his tour at 22 and people might actually have to eat their humble pie and just accept that he’s here to stay.
who keeps posting my old comments?
@gail, well done, you almost made a valid point about McIlroy.
But it’s more putting than chipping, the guy is a good chipper? Did you see the hole out from the bunker at the weekend. He has an imagination around the greens but just needs to convert more chances(20 footers) and eliminate the errors(shouldn’t miss the short ones) and he’ll be the best.
dave whats that humble pie made out off.?
Luke is undoubtedly the strongest player MENTALLY on both Tours. And combined with his short game & putting, he will definitely be a factor next season …
Dave…what are you posting about? Donald reminds me of Justin Leonard, except Justin has a major. Even if they replace the British with The Players, he’ll be “grandfathered” and his major will stand. Both are short drivers, solid iron players, and have great short games. The problem is that they can’t het it any further and make any more putts, so when the latter starts to wane, which it invariably does when you get older, it’s gets a lot tougher…
Luke had a great year- as have I( Luke #2) but knowing golf as well as I do- The true #1 player in the world- Tiger Woods- will be back to reclaim his kingdom in 2012- I can guarantee it. He maintained that level for 11 years. No disrespect to Luke Donald but no one out there can hold onto number #1 and win 14 majors and dominate like Tiger. He is the only one who has that capability to do so. End of discussion.
@hao, if it was you, read what I said first. The race was on, I never said that McIlroy was going to win, I said that there was a chance.
And then notice I said IF he wins, I did not say WHEN he wins. Posting my comments is quite sad to be honest.
Luke Donald to watch in 2012 for a major! He is building enough confidence with his consistency. But what an exemplar demeanor on and out of court to emulate!
dave you wanted to be the hero after rory;s 66 you then jumped ship to donald after 2nd round.if you give it take it. if this keeps everyone honest so be it.actually it can help people reading some previous posts.