The (Luke) Donald's No-Three Putt Streak
I've been enjoying Paul Mahoney's reports from the Dunhill at St. Andrews (here's the Friday report on John Daly's 67, setting himself up for a spectacular implosion).
But I just couldn't let his Thursday report go without noting the incredible streak Luke Donald had going until he met up with the 10th 7th green at Kingsbarns.
He teed off at the 10th with 434 consecutive holes without a single three-putt, the longest running streak in the game.
In an age when it feels like half the players on tour are converting to the belly putter in a desperate attempt to coax the ball into the hole, Donald's short flatstick has been rattling them in for seven tournaments over eight weeks, stretching back to the Canadian Open, the week after the British Open at Royal St George's. A remarkable statistic in a sport obsessed with them.
Donald extended his magical touch on the greens all the way through his front nine and got to the seventh (his 16th) before disaster struck. Well OK, it wasn't THAT tragic, but his run of holes without a three-putt came to an end at 449. After lagging up from 70 feet, Donald was left with an eight-footer for par -- and missed.
"I was a little upset, yeah," Donald said with a wry smile after signing for a three-under-par 69. It's the little victories in golf, isn't, that we look for. I didn't want to miss. But 69 is not a bad score to start the week."
Friday, September 30, 2011 at 08:36 PM
Reader Comments (26)
Call me a white-trash apologist, but I find it beautiful that John Daly plays so well at the Old Course.
There are forces in this game we all love that will remain incomprehensible.
"Luke Donald Disease" was coined to describe the inability of rich young British golfers not to win a major (the last British Champion was Paul Lawrie - the last multiple winner was Faldo). The hype was that Donald would be Faldo's heir apparent, until he was struck by the "disease."
Instead, Donald has just gotten older and much much richer since the "disease" was first identified, but still no major victory. Luke Donald Disease just becomes more entrenched.
Don't buy the self-deprecation foisted by KLG. I've witness his stroke on a strange set of greens and it's solid.
@ Moi, Luke Donald ain't no Monty! Never was, never will be!!
Luke Donald ain't nothing but a rich man's Bill Haas.
Haas won. And he is not wearing nurse pants (I hope). And we don't have to be subjected to his "art".
Pleasant and a good sport? Check
Winner of significant titles? Check
Accomplished visual artist? Check
Graduate of Northwestern? Check (I think)
Husband? Check
Father? Check
The latter two of which any of us would be happy to be his father-in-law? Check
More people need to be afflicted with LDD.
Thanks, Hornet. That was a very good day on very good greens. That vermicidal wedge on 18 still bothers me though.
If he still doesn't have a major title six or seven years from now, then go ahead and throw him in with all the other guys who are money machines but can't win majors.
In my book guys like Graeme McDowell and Keegan Bradley are both better players than Luke...wine guy is a faux #1.
calvin, Haas won a pillow fight. Winning a fall finish event is tougher to do.
Its never been done officially but there were multiple seasons that Tiger would have led both money lists had he been an official Euro Tour member. Damn fine accomplishment for Luke if he pulls it off.
Paul Lawrie the last British major winner? Do you know something about Northern Ireland that the rest if us don't?
Del's comment about Bradley and McDowell is a head-scratcher, but it does seem more and more folks see pro golf that way.
LD may never win a Major, but play em all with v-grooves and persimmon, and/or over 1980s yardages, and I think he'd win several.
As far as the number one ranking goes, we all know that in terms of greatness the current King is in exile (perhaps for ever). But in terms of consistency Luke or Westy, while incomparably less regal, are as worthy of the top ranking as many or all who stood second in the Tiger years (Furyk, Stricker, Sergio, etc).
Del, I agree with you on this: G-Shag, sorry G-Mac is in SOME ways the man you'd pick on yr team - despite LD's impressive Ryder Cup record.
But back to "Luke Donald disease". In my opinion it DOES exist. It's a condition that affects many, though by no means all, who condemn Luke Donald. Victims of the disease appear to be insecure about their own virility, and fall victim to the delusion that they can boost it by disparaging Luke Donald for not being long enough, macho enough, killer enough, etc. This doc advises be careful not to protest too much, boys. Remember that for every woman who swoons at a man in a Lamborghini there are two who exchange knowing glances and wiggle a pinkie.