Titles more important than rankings, insists Donald
25 May 2011 - 15:30:11
England's Luke Donald insists that being the number one ranked player in the world would not diminish his appetite for silverware and major championship titles.
Donald is locked in a three-way tussle for the top spot with Lee Westwood, the current incumbent, and Germany's Martin Kaymer who lies third.
Any one of the three could be the number one player by the end of the PGA Championship at Wentworth on Sunday.
Donald missed out on a chance to overtake Westwood when he lost to Ian Poulter in the final of the World Match Play Championship at Finca Cortesin in Spain last week.
But Donald is adamant that becoming statistically the top golfer in the world is a secondary consideration compared to adding to his collection of eight tournament wins worldwide.
"Being number one is not a focus of mine. Winning tournaments is," said Donald as he prepared for the European Tour's flagship event.
"It is a fun topic to debate and there has not been a world ranking for a long time where it has been this close, where there has been some movement in it.
"If everything goes to plan and I get to number one, it doesn't mean I have made it - it would be an honour and a great achievement but it doesn't mean I can just stop working, that's the end of the road and I can put my clubs away.
"There's plenty more to do in this game, to improve and get better and being number one would be great but it is not everything."
On Wednesday Kaymer told reporters that Donald deserved to be number one and the Englishman found it hard to disagree.
Donald's recent run of consistency has come after working with Dave Alred the renowned all-round coach who helps England's Rugby World Cup winner Jonny Wilkinson with his kicking.
He added: "Dave helps keep me on the path of continually looking at how I practice and different ways to practice under pressure. To push yourself and be mentally tough.
"I think I am the most consistent right now and I think I have proven that over the last few months.
"It is a hard thing to measure, I think the world rankings are pretty close in doing that.
"Obviously consistency pays. I feel like I have been the most consistent over the last six months."
Donald will play the first two rounds at Wentworth with US Open champion Graeme McDowell and defending champion Simon Khan whilst Westwood is drawn with South Africa's Retief Goosen and Alvaro Quiros of Spain. Kaymer is out with US Masters winner Charl Schwartzel and England's Justin Rose.
