Left field
The Reuters global sports blog
“Luuuke” golf beginning to win over fans
Luke Donald’s complete dominance of Wentworth’s brutal West Course has led the world to sit up and take notice, while his chanting fans have also made their mark.
Not that people were not aware of Donald before, just that his latest victory and the fashion in which he won Europe´s PGA have raised his profile in his native England and made him the golfer to beat again.
“Luuuke” screamed the crowds during the hustle and bustle of a weekend at Wentworth. For good reason. Donald was showing the galleries, TV viewers and his fellow professionals how to play the game.
Methodical rhythm in mind, I took to the course then range on a hot summer’s Monday and tried to replicate it, much like over a month ago, when, inspired by Bubba Watson’s US Masters win, I thought it best to go and swipe at the ball paying little attention to technique. That didn’t work.
The result of Donald golf? Try it. Slow everything down. Get everything flowing as one and….ball into ditch. OK that was me. And I got better until for a five minute period or so the ball was actually doing as I wanted.
‘With more practice I can better’ I thought, encouraged at my progress. I persevered and got worse. But I left with a positive feeling. Donald has always spoken of how hard he has worked at his game and it is now paying dividends.
“Just got back to Chi town, quick sweat in the gym to get the last of the Moët out! then off to The Memorial tomorrow to do it all over again,” tweeted the Englishman after leaving his home country for Chicago, his base.
Daly brightens up Wentworth (and it’s not just down to the trousers)
World number seven Paul Casey may be less than enamoured with John Daly’s dress sense but he remains a big fan of the colourful American’s golfing skills.
Twice major winner Daly is in the middle of a five-week run of tournaments in Europe and while his golf has been largely unspectacular, his multi-coloured trousers have certainly captured everyone’s attention.
“I saw John today and look at his trousers, they were outrageous,” Casey told reporters at the PGA Championship at Wentworth on Thursday. “I hope he’s getting a lot of money (for wearing them).
“But today I saw him hit this four-iron fantastically and he stopped it on the green and it was from about 230 yards. That was something. There are a lot of great players out here but John creates memories. When he’s out on the golf course he brings a smile to people’s faces and that’s the most important thing.”
Daly achieved his best result for nearly four years when the 1991 U.S. PGA champion and 1995 British Open winner tied second in this month’s Italian Open.
He has often been the subject of unsavoury headlines but has worked hard on his game since being banned in November for bringing the U.S. PGA Tour into disrepute after he was accused of being drunk outside a bar.
“I think he is a great guy at heart,” said Ryder Cup player Casey. “Has he possibly made a couple of mistakes (in his time)? Yes, but I think they pale in comparison to what’s going on in the world in general right now.
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Resident Left Field Expert
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