€10m man Luke proves bigger not always better

THE final event of the European Tour season was won by the man who has been the circuit’s biggest hitter for a stunning four of the last five years.

But it is England’s Luke Donald, with a driving average of 282 yards that leaves him ranked only 145th, and 30 yards behind Spaniard Alvaro Quiros, whose year has been the stuff of dreams.

World number one, leading money-winner in the United States and now Europe’s Order of Merit champion as well, Donald has shown that brute force is not a pre-requisite for success in golf.

Accuracy and a brilliant short game have still to bring the 34-year-old a Major and that inevitably is the top target for 2012, but they have given him four victories, a stunning 20 top-10 finishes in his last 25 events and an amazing €10million in prize money — more than Tiger Woods has won in any year.

First man ever to top the money lists on both sides of the Atlantic in the same season, Donald is not done for the year yet.

But before heading off to this week’s Australian Masters in Melbourne, the 34-year-old said: “I’m sure there are golfers out there that have looked at my success and figured out that you don’t need to hit it a hundred miles.

“Obviously 350 yards off the tee helps — it’s one of Alvaro’s biggest strengths — but there’s definitely more to this game.

“I would certainly love to hit it further — I think it would make life a little easier — but I’ve got to stick with what I have and what my talents are.”

Donald prides himself on working hard, but also believes he has a great team around him — coach Pat Goss, who has been there since the Ryder Cup star’s university days in Chicago, sports psychologist Dave Alred (the man who helped Jonny Wilkinson become a World Cup winner) and caddie John McLaren.

The last of that trio has been on the bag since the end of the 2009 season after Donald took the difficult decision not to have brother Christian alongside him on the course any more. “It was a tough thing to do,” he said. “But sometimes change is good.

Christian, now with world number four Martin Kaymer, was there to greet Donald after he ended the European season with a third-place finish in Dubai.

“He just said, ‘Well done and you would have made Dad proud’.”

Donald won the European money list despite playing six fewer events than runner-up Rory McIlroy and he won the American one despite playing seven fewer than runner-up Webb Simpson.

It truly was an amazing double.