Luke Donald, England

Luke Donald was born in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire and played junior golf at Hazlemere and Beaconsfield Golf Clubs.  Donald took a golf scholarship at Northwestern University in 1997, where He won the individual NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships men's title in 1999, beating the scoring record formerly held by Tiger Woods.  

Donald turned professional in 2001. The following year he won the Southern Farm Bureau Classic – becoming only the 11th rookie in PGA Tour history to earn more than $1 million in his first season. In 2004 he won the Omega European Masters and the Scandinavian Masters on the European Tour. In the same year he was a member of the victorious European Ryder Cup team and also won the WGC-World Cup for England in partnership with Paul Casey.  

By early 2005 he was in the top twenty of the Official World Golf Rankings and his win in the 2006 Honda Classic moved him into the top ten for the first time. Soon afterwards he moved up to ninth and in January 2007 he moved up to seventh in the world.  

Donald won his singles match, 2&1 against Chad Campbell in the 36th Ryder Cup to help ensure Europe win the trophy for a third successive time. Donald took part in three matches and won them all. He also won in the foursomes twice, with Sergio García. 

Donald has amassed career earnings on the PGA Tour of over $17,000,000, as well as over €7,000,000 on the European Tour. In May 2010, Donald won the Madrid Masters by one shot for his first title in four years. In October 2010, Donald was a member of the European team that won the 2010 Ryder Cup with a one point win over the USA.  

Donald's biggest win to date came in February 2011 at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona when he defeated the German and subsequent world number one Martin Kaymer 3&2 in the final. His imperious form continued in 2011 at The Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links where he finished as runner up.  Donald continued his excellent match play form in May reaching the final of the Volvo World Match Play Championship which he eventually lost 2&1 to fellow Englishman Ian Poulter. Luke put the disappointment of that tournament behind him by winning his next event, the European tour’s flagship event; the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.  Winning this event also sent him to the pinnacle of the game as he became the World number 1.    

Career Wins

2012 - Transitions Championship
2011 - Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Classic
2011 - Barclays Scottish Open
2011 - BMW PGA Championship
2011 – WGC – Accenture Match Play Championship
2010 – Madrid Masters
2006 – Honda Classic
2004 – WGC – World Cup / Omega European Championship / Scandinavian Masters
2002 – Southern Farm Bureau Classic