Things Luke up for Donald

Luke Donald said in March that he thought the only way for him to catch up with world number one Tiger Woods was to “start believing I’m as good as him“.

Well, after 42 holes of the United States PGA championship in Chicago today the 28-year-old Englishman was not just as good, but two better than Woods – and led the race for the final major title of the season.

No European has won any major since 1999 and none has lifted this trophy since Tommy Armour way back in 1930.

But after three birdies in the first five holes of his third round Donald, joint halfway leader with Swede Henrik Stenson and Americans Billy Andrade and Tim Herron.

Such was the low scoring at Medinah Country Club following overnight rain that when Donald made a 12-foot par putt on the first it was not only to remain to eight under par, but to stay one of an amazing 10 players on the same mark.

Then, however, the former Walker Cup star made putts of 18 and 20 feet on the next two greens and then also birdied the fifth and sixth he was up to 12 under - one more than the mark with which Woods won seven years ago when he held off Sergio Garcia on the final day.

Shaun Micheel, winner in 2003, was only one behind after a dazzling outward 30, while Open champion Woods, who set off again by sinking a 30-foot par putt on the first and then making birdies on the second, fifth and seventh, was two behind along with Canadian left-hander Mike Weir.

As for Stenson, Andrade and Herron they found themselves almost buried in the rush of birdies elsewhere.

The Swede bogeyed the first and fourth and so did Andrade to be five behind, while Herron’s covering of the first five holes in level par dropped him “only” three back.

Donald’s compatriot Ian Poulter was among those picking up the mood of the day. Four under overnight he went to the turn in 33, then added another birdie at the 11th. But the Milton Keynes golfer did bogey the next to return to seven under.

Phil Mickelson and Chris DiMarco, expected to be Ryder Cup partners at the K Club next month, got in on the act as well and Garcia kept his hopes alive too.

Mickelson, beaten by three by Woods in their head-to-head on the first two days, birdied four of the first seven to reach eight under, but remained there with five to play.

DiMarco, runner-up to Woods at Hoylake last month and in the Masters after a play-off last year, turned in 31 to be eight under as well, but had to wait until the 16th to add his next birdie.

There was an early indication that this was going to be a spectacular day’s scoring.

At the fifth American Joey Sindelar holed a three-wood for the first albatross in any major since England’s Gary Evans in the 2004 Open at Royal Troon and just the third in the event’s history.

Justin Rose, playing his first major for two years, had a 70 for three under, but Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell had to be content with a level-par 72 for one under and David Howell and Lee Westwood were unable to make the move they really wanted.

Both were out in “only” 36 and Howell finished with a 73 for one under, while Westwood, three under overnight, was four under with two to play thanks to birdies at the 14th and 16th.

Normally in a major a round under par takes a player forward. Not this time, though.