 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| In two Walker Cup appearances for GB&I, this one in 2001, Luke Donald posted a .875 winning percentage. (John Mummert/USGA) |
Luke Donald of England is arguably one of the all-time great Walker Cup performers for the Great Britain and Ireland side. While the Northwestern University graduate only competed twice, his .875 winning percentage and two team victories in 1999 and 2001 certainly put Donald among the elite amateur golfers to have ever suited up for GB&I. Donald has carried that passion for team play into the professional ranks, where he has posted a 5-1-1 mark in two winning Ryder Cup appearances (2004 and 2006) for Europe. USGA Digital Media staff writer David Shefter talked with Donald by phone while he was in Jersey City, N.J., for the recent Barclays tournament on the PGA Tour about his Walker Cup memories.
Your Walker Cup record is remarkable, especially in singles where you are unbeaten in four matches. Can you talk about your Walker Cup experience?
Luke Donald: I thoroughly enjoyed my Walker Cup experience. I even delayed turning professional so I could play that second one [in 2001]. That was one of the best experiences on the golf course that I’ve had. Ryder Cups are obviously up there and there’s a little bit more people and more atmosphere, but the two Walker Cups I played were unbelievable. Just great memories.
As a junior golfer in England, how big was the Walker Cup? Is it a little bigger deal than it is in the USA?
Donald: I do think it’s the pinnacle of amateur golf. We grow up playing a lot of amateur matches, whether it’s county versus county or trying to get into the Home Internationals where you are playing different countries around the UK (United Kingdom) or matches against other countries (European Team Championships). The Walker Cup is obviously the biggest one you can get into. That’s the best 10 people from your country. It is a big deal. And I had such a great experience at Nairn [in 1999] that I wanted to live it again at Sea Island [in 2001].
Is the atmosphere different playing a Walker Cup in England or Scotland than in the United States?
Donald: I don’t think so. There are differences obviously with being home and away with how partisan the crowds are and that kind of stuff. It’s the difference of playing a British Open and a Masters. There’s just little subtle differences. The British crowds have always been known as being great spectators. They are very knowledgeable about the game. I’m not saying the Americans aren’t [knowledgeable], but it’s just a different culture. Americans like to go out and enjoy themselves a little more and be a bit more rowdy. And that’s a cool atmosphere to be a part of as well.
At Nairn, GB&I made a huge Sunday charge by winning 10 of a possible 12 points. What did captain Peter McEvoy say to the squad on Saturday night to rally the troops?
Donald: His biggest thing that whole week is he did a short video about all of our accomplishments and he just wanted to keep telling us that we were a group of winners. That we had got here for a reason and we were capable of winning. He just kept boosting our confidence and it seemed to work for us well.
And you repeated the rally again two years later at Ocean Forest Golf Club by winning 9½ points on Sunday to pull away for a 15-9 victory. Captain McEvoy seems to be a pretty good motivator?
Donald: I’ve always been impressed with Pete McEvoy. He’s very matter-of-fact. There was never any doubt that we weren’t going to win. He just wanted to make sure that we completely believed in ourselves and that we were the better team. It seemed to work. I’ve enjoyed being under his captaincy (Note: Donald also played under McEvoy at the 1998 World Amateur Team Championship in Chile, which GB&I won).
Lately, GB&I has become very competitive in this biennial series that was once dominated by the Americans. Is there something being done by the governing bodies or golf associations in the UK to develop and nurture young talent?
Donald: I wish that was the fact because a lot of the media keep complaining that us British players can’t win any majors. The likes of the English golf unions and those same bodies in Scotland, Wales and Ireland are thinking about lots of different ways to cultivate their players and try to prepare them for professional golf. I think it’s working to a certain degree and we’ve had some success. I think it’s a little cyclical. These things go in patterns. Same for the Ryder Cup. For a long time the U.S. really dominated the Ryder Cup and in the last 20 years or so it’s been more in the favor of Europe.
I’m looking at some of the players who have come through the Walker Cup the past 20 years and you see names like Padraig Harrington, Paul Casey, Graeme McDowell, Nick Dougherty, Richie Ramsay who won the 2006 U.S. Amateur, Oliver Wilson, Rory McIlroy, Rhys Davies and the list goes on. These are guys who are enjoying post-amateur success on various pro tours.
Donald: Absolutely. And playing Walker Cups is a part of that. It’s a good stepping stone. It really prepares you. There’s nothing quite like a Walker Cup with the atmosphere and the pressure and the people watching you to get you ready for what a taste of what it’s going to be like when you are a professional.
But there have been a few players lately who have decided to turn pro early and not play in the Walker Cup. England’s Chris Wood, who did so well at the 2008 British Open, and Ireland’s Shane Lowry, who won a European Tour event as an amateur earlier this year, elected to play for pay. Are they missing out by not competing in a Walker Cup?
Donald: They are missing a great experience obviously for one. I would never give those experiences back for anything. I feel like in golf we are very fortunate that we do have time. It’s not like other sports where we are limited to a five-year span. If you play consistently and stay healthy, you can play for 40 years. So I feel like if you have that opportunity to play some major amateur events you should probably take it if you can. Obviously the lure of winning a professional event and have people throw lots of money at you is pretty hard to turn down as well. It’s a tough decision. I suppose from someone who played Walker Cups and went through the [U.S.] college system and took his time, I felt like that was the best way for me. It’s not always the best way for everyone.
You obviously could have turned professional in the summer of 2001, having completed your eligibility at Northwestern. But you chose to play one more Walker Cup. Was it that important to do it a second time?
Donald: I still had time to play a few PGA Tour events through [sponsor’s] exemptions after that [Match] and make my way on tour without going to Q (Qualifying) School. It didn’t really work out, but luckily I got through all three stages of Q School that year.
Is there one particular memory that stands out from any of your two Walker Cup appearances?
Donald: I was really fortunate. I played singles against Bryce Molder at Nairn and Lucas Glover at Sea Island. And Lucas just won the U.S. Open. These are all good things that I can draw back on. If Lucas can go win a U.S. Open – and I’ve pretty much had a good career in amateur and professional [ranks] – it gives me heart that I can go on and do that. As for other moments, I guess the first one is always most special. Just the celebration at Nairn. Running around the media tent and spreading champagne. It was a good time.
You also made history at Sea Island by being the first GB&I team to win back-to-back. That had to be enjoyable.
Donald: We had a good group of players and I think we had a great captain in Peter McEvoy.
Your only defeat in Walker Cup play came in Saturday foursomes (alternate shot) in 2001 against Lucas Glover and Nick Cassini with Nick Dougherty as your partner. What happened?
Donald: I’ll just have to blame Nick on that one (laughing). I’m just joking. You can’t win them all.
You’ve good success in any team event. Your squads went 2-0 in the Walker Cup and both of your European Ryder Cup teams have beaten the Americans. Do you just enjoy the team play?
Donald: I’ve really enjoyed match play. That one on one really focuses you. Growing up in the UK and playing all those match-play events when you are an amateur helped a little bit. You learn all the little intricacies of when to attack and when not to. I’ve always enjoyed match play golf. I wish there was a little bit more of it as a professional. Match play is all about not giving away holes and I did that pretty well during my career. I guess I’ve been able to wear down my opponents over the years.
Would you change anything from the current format of four foursomes matches each day followed by singles in the afternoon?
Donald: You could certainly stretch it out another day just like the Ryder Cup and extend it a little bit. It’s a great event and why not add another day.
Your thoughts about this year’s new format of having all 10 members play singles on Sunday afternoon.
Donald: It’s tough when you have to sit people out. No one should have to sit out, especially in singles. You should at least have a chance. I think that’s a good rule.
Do you ever think what it would be like to play one more Walker Cup to have a chance at the all-time points record of 10 held by Gary Wolstenholme?
Donald: It was my time. I don’t regret any of my decisions and I was happy that I was able to play two. That’s one more than most people. Gary was a little different kind of guy. He enjoyed his Walker Cups and his amateur career. I got to the stage where it was hard for me not to turn professional.
How much did playing college golf in the U.S. help you when it came to the Walker Cup, especially when it was held in Georgia?
Donald: I quickly adapted to the U.S.-style courses. I had a really good record during my college career and they just seemed to suit me. I think that’s why I chose to go through the U.S. [PGA] Tour Q School before going to Europe. I just felt really comfortable with the speed of the greens and the well-manicured courses. It obviously helped me at Sea Island, especially with the hot weather as well. It was one of the hottest places that I’ve ever been. You couldn’t even practice. Two minutes after walking out you were dripping. It was probably even a degree warmer than Tulsa at Southern Hills [for the 2007 PGA Championship]
A lot of recent GB&I players like yourself, Paul Casey, Rhys Davies, Oliver Wilson and Graeme McDowell have come to the U.S. to play college golf. Has that been a reason for some of the recent success in Walker Cup play?
Donald: I think people have become more aware of how good the U.S. college system is. That’s one downfall overseas in the UK that if you want to carry on your education, it’s very hard to mix both sport and education. You just can’t do it on the same level as the U.S. college system. I’m not sure how many are coming over for the education as well (Donald has an art degree from Northwestern) but the college golf scene is pretty good. You are constantly playing against great and that’s a great way to improve.
