World number two Luke Donald seemed to finish like a train at the final rounds of the US PGA Players Championship – but then, went on to put all the flight plans on hold as the Englishman found himself with an opportunity to take the title at The Players Championship at the TPC Sawgrass. Donald started the last round at the TPC Sawgrass from 27th position but he went on to equal the record that is set at the richest event of golf with a back nine 30 that contained as many as six birdies.
Having set the club house target of nine under par with the 66 that he pulled off, Donald found himself tied for third spot in the leader board, when he was only two shots behind the leader. But this was as much due to his credit as to the discredit of Kevin Na, the American shooting two nervous bogeys at the fifth and the sixth holes. At that time, Luke Donald was in a position to reclaim the top spot in the world golf rankings if he could finish the event with a solo fourth or better than that and he found himself there in the company of Martin Laird.
Speaking to the reporters after the event, Donald stated that all of a sudden, all the putts seemed to click in and he managed to get a nice run. Moreover, the wind direction also favored him and so did the greens, which were holding out.
But in spite of all his efforts, he still had to see Matt Kuchar lift the title for the first time and he congratulated him as well. Luke Donald also added that he was scheduled to fly to Chicago but when he saw a chance, he decided to stick around for some more time, but in vain, as it turned out.