Full Name: Luke Campbell Donald
Date of Birth: December 7th, 1977
Place of Birth: Hemel Hempstead, England
Nationality: English
Height: 5ft 9in
Turned Professional: 2001
Photo of Luke Donald by Keith Allison
Luke Donald began his golfing career in America when taking a scholarship at Northwestern University in 1997. He won the individual NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships men's title in 1999, beating the scoring record set by Tiger Woods in the process. He turned professional in 2001 and secured his tour card for the 2002 season by finishing in a tie for 23rd at the Qualifying School.
He made a solid start to his career on the PGA Tour and won his first title at the Southern Farm Bureau Classic in 2002. Although he was consistent the following year, he could only manage two top ten finishes but he was twice a winner in 2004. He collected the Omega European Masters and the Scandinavian Masters on the European Tour and underlined his progress as part of the successful European Ryder Cup team. He also teamed up with Paul Casey to win the WGC-World Cup for England.
He continued his rise to the top by finishing third in his debut at the Masters in 2005 and was fast approaching the World Top Ten. In 2006 he claimed his second success on the US PGA Tour in the
Honda Classic in Florida and again featured in a Major when tying for 3rd at the PGA Championship.
Donald was also victorious in all three Ryder Cup matches as Europe retained the trophy.
A wrist injury in 2008 led to a six-month absence and his next victory came in the Madrid Masters in 2010. This ended a four-year drought and sparked a further rise through the rankings. In February 2011, Donald achieved the biggest win of his career at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, defeating Martin Kaymer in the final. That victory elevated Donald to his best ever World ranking position of number three.
Donald was beaten in a playoff for The Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links by American Brandt Snedeker and was again denied victory when beaten in the final of the Volvo World Match Play by Ian Poulter. That 2&1 defeat ended an incredible sequence of 14 consecutive match play victories for Donald. Even so, he was closing in on the World Number One spot. In May 2011, he edged out Lee Westwood in a playoff to win the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth for a fifth victory on the European Tour and reach the pinnacle of the golfing ladder. Ironically, Westwood had started the tournament as number one in the world and the sudden-death playoff took on extra significance.
In July, Donald won the Barclays Scottish Open and claimed his fourth title of the year at the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Classic in October. In December, Donald won the European Tour Race to Dubai 2011, becoming the first golfer in history to be officially ranked first on both the PGA Tour and European Tour in the same year.
In 2012, Donald faced a new challenger in the form of Rory McIlroy, the Irishman claiming the top spot with victory in The Honda Classic. Donald responded with success in the Transitions Championship, his fifth victory on the US PGA Tour. The Number One spot went from one to the other during the season, Donald retaining his title at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in May to take top spot for a fourth time. In the 2012 Open Championship, Donald finished tied for fifth, equalling his best-ever finish in the event. In August, McIlroy won the 2012 US PGA Championship to move back above Donald in the rankings. Victory in the Dunlop Phoenix tournament in Japan closed out a remarkable season for both players. In the same year, Donald was awarded the MBE for his services to golf.
