Donald won't duck the challenge

20 May 2015 03:46

As a two-time winner, it is hard to imagine Luke Donald not playing in the BMW PGA Championship, the flagship event of the European Tour.

But the former world number one admits he would have to consider giving up membership of his home tour if his worrying slide down the rankings continues.

Donald first reached top spot by beating Lee Westwood in a play-off at Wentworth in 2011, the year he became the first player to top the money list on both sides of the Atlantic in the same season, and successfully defended the title 12 months later.

The 37-year-old also finished second in 2010 and third last year, but has struggled to produce that form on a consistent basis and comes into this week's event ranked 60th in the world.

The top 60 on Monday will qualify for the US Open and the top 50 gain entry to the Open Championship, events Donald has missed just once, through injury, since 2005.

And Donald concedes he might have to copy former Ryder Cup team-mate Paul Casey in focusing solely on the PGA Tour if he cannot arrest the downward spiral.

"With my world ranking sliding, I'd have to seriously consider something like that next year if it had not got better," said Donald, who would also like to see a reduction in the number of tournaments, currently 13, players have to contest to maintain European Tour membership.

"If you're not in the majors and world events, to play both tours you're just thinning yourself out too much, or would have to play 30, 35 events for the year.

"There are some things on the line that I haven't had to worry about in the past. Staying in the top 60 for the US Open, getting in the top 50 for the Open, I'm obviously aware of these. (But) I don't want to have them be too much of a focus."

Casey is one of the top European players missing from Wentworth this week, along with Sergio Garcia, Henrik Stenson and Ian Poulter, but US Open champion Martin Kaymer does not believe attendance should be mandatory.

"On one hand, it's the great thing about our job that we can choose what we want to do, that we have the freedom," Kaymer said. "The second thing, what you shouldn't forget, is that you have to give back as well. Is it giving back because you have to, or is it giving back because you want to? That is a question that you have to ask yourself.

"I can understand what Poulter said, that he missed the cut many times, what's the point of coming here? I get that.

"If you don't like to play a golf course where you have not played well, it's a lot of negativity before you even go. And then maybe you don't start well, you make a couple bogeys and you think, well, why am I here? I would rather be in Florida and drive my Ferrari. I understand that.

"You can't say you have to come here. It's a very difficult question to answer and I think it depends a lot on the individual."

Defending champion Rory McIlroy is the favourite to claim his third win in four weeks after victory in the WGC-Cadillac Match Play and a seven-shot victory at Quail Hollow on Sunday.

But Kaymer is wary of placing too much expectation on the shoulders of his Ryder Cup team-mate, who has recorded seven wins worldwide in the last 12 months, including two majors and two World Golf Championship events.

"I'm not sure if you can call it the 'Rory Era' yet, but he's definitely the player that you need to compare yourself with if you want to win tournaments," Kaymer said.

"Every time he enters a tournament he's one of the favourites and he has a very good chance to win. I wouldn't put the pressure on Rory of calling it the new Rory Era.

"I know it's nice from the media and from the fans that people think like this about you, but I wouldn't put that pressure on someone who is 26 years old."

Source: PA