Donald on course to end drought

LUKE DONALD gave himself the chance to end three and a half years without a win by matching the lowest round of his European Tour career in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship yesterday.

Donald followed a 65 at St Andrews with an eight-under-par 64 at Kingsbarns and heads back to the home of golf with a one-stroke lead over Rory McIlroy and Simon Dyson.

The tournament, which has a first prize of more than £485,000, (€529,000) goes into an extra day because no play was possible yesterday because of gale-force winds.

Donald, just inside the top 100 after his opening 72 at Carnoustie, has a Scottish father and donned a pair of Tartan trousers for the day.

“I’m glad I played well because you have to when you wear something this outrageous,” said the 29-year-old.

“I thought five or six birdies would be good but I went a few better.”

He had nine in all and was particularly pleased with those on the 16th and 17th. He had gone in the water to bogey the short 15th but pitched to eight feet on the next and then, despite his drive finishing in a divot, hit a seven iron to 12 feet.

His last victory was the Honda Classic in Florida in March 2006 and his last success in Europe came more than five years ago.

An American journalist coined the phrase “Luke Donald Disease” this July, claiming that “most top British players” were sufferers and he just happened to be the best example of a get-rich-quick golfer lacking the drive to fulfil his potential.

Not surprisingly, it did not go down well with Donald, his family or his fans.

“I don’t think I’ve ever met the guy,” commented Donald. “If I did I would say I didn’t really appreciate it and that I felt it was extremely off the mark.

“It was slightly hurtful. I like having stuff named after me, but not a disease.

He is glad to be back fighting for a title at last after needing surgery for a serious wrist injury last year.

In the celebrity pro-am Donald will again be partnering former Liverpool footballer Jamie Redknapp in the final round – they met on Donald’s honeymoon – while McIlroy will play with his father Gerry on his 20th birthday.

The Irish star had shared the halfway lead with compatriot Michael Hoey and Scot Richie Ramsay and went two clear when he made a 25-foot putt for eagle at the third at Kingsbarns.

But then came three bogeys and in the end he was content with a three under 69.

“We thought we would be heading home tonight – I think Mum had a surprise planned,” said McIlroy. “But it will be great to play with him on the Old Course again and to win would be incredible. Awesome.”

Even a second place finish should take the youngster to the top of the European money list for the first time.

Dyson, a team-mate for Britain and Ireland against Continental Europe a week ago, returned a 68 on the same course. He looked to have dealt a huge blow to his hopes when he failed to make the carry at the 15th like Donald and double-bogeyed, but then came birdies on the 16th and 18th.

Darren Clarke would have been alongside them but for three-putting the last, but he could not be too hard on himself after a 67 and will resume in joint fourth place with Hoey, Ramsay and Rafael Cabrera-Bello, the Spaniard who won the Austrian Open with a closing 60 two weeks ago.

Lee Westwood, playing with Clarke, turned in 30 and added another birdie on the 13th, but he was another to find the water on the 15th, bogeyed and with a 66 still has five shots to make up.

Pádraig Harrington only just made the cut on four under after having double bogeys on the 13th and 14th in a 72 at Kingsbarns.