Yeah right!!

[haplesshacker]

Now. As much as I wish he would win something big. Luke Donald is, I feel, being passed by the younger generation of pro golfer. Maybe his time and opportunity has passed.

However. I have just read this in his diary on the Mizuno website.

Lifted from the site.

"The Masters is still fairly fresh in the memory and the words of a certain great gentleman still ringing in my head. Gary Player thinks I’ll make it as a major winner. What an accolade to get from a grand-slam winner."

I think Mr. Player was being polite!

How many times in pro surveys has Luke been listed as one of the most over-rated pros, and least likely to win a major!?

Any thoughts.

 

[Herbie]

Luke Donald for me showed promise when he first appeared, but as it has been discussed regarding up and comming players on other threads, Luke is one player who I believe has reached his potential and will have a great deal of difficulty going beyond.
He will always compete well but rarely win anything in my view, there is too much tallent out there with that killer instinct that he lacks.

 

[Parmo]

I think you are being a tad harsh tbh, there are far worse journey on tour than him.

 

[Herbie]

I think you are being a tad harsh tbh, there are far worse journey on tour than him.

How am I being harsh Parmo? He competes and performs well, but on the big stage he doesnt exactly have an exciting record of victories or near misses.
I think my comment is very fair and quite accurate, he may burst out and prove me wrong, hes good enough to do it, but I fear he wont, and certainly isnt right now.

 

[haplesshacker]

Parmo. I think it's made worse because, he's English, had huge potential, and was very promising in his earlier pro days.

He'll make a decent enough living at the game. I just think that his time has passed. I would dearly like him to win a major. But I fear he lacks that last bit of something to do it.

He seems like a decent chap. So I don't think there's anything to dislike about him.

 

[bobmac]

I really admire the journeymen on tour.
The Barry Lanes of this world.
They must know they are never going to make it huge, but they still keep trying.
They mostly make a nice living out of it but to even keep your card is tough going.
You could say its easier for the more natural players like Sergio, Montie or more recently young Rory, but I think the guys who grind it out week in week out knowing if they have a good week they could get a top 10 they shoud get applauded.
Unfortunatly, I fear Luke, despite having a lovely swing, is just not going to make it huge.
I wouldn't mind being £5 behind him though

 

[Parmo]

How many golfers are on tour and how many have won Majors and are capable of winning one, maybe 5-10% of them?

Going back to the other weekend and the Irish open, how many of the worlds best turned out for it? not many when you look at the invitation on the PGA that weekend, very sad to see inho and thats one of the reasons we need good journeymen like Luke Donald

 

[wrighty]

Instead of polishing his trophies, he'll have to make do with counting his millions!

It'll be tough for him, but I'm sure he'll manage......

 

[freddielong]

To me he has the ability to be more than that though and I think that is the saddest thing about Luke Donald, he came out of college as the number 1 amatuer in America I think he even broke some of Tigers scoring records. He turned pro the same time as Paul Casey and looked the more accomplished player, but Paul has seriously overtaken him.

I hope you are writing him of to early and once he gets over his injury he will fulfill his potential.

 

[Paul2009]

I like luke donald and think when he could possibly challenge for a major IF he is completely on his game. I wouldnt be too confident he would win one however and as he is playing at the min, I reckon he is a bit of a 'middle of the road' tour pro.

 

[vig]

He's touching 50, yes?.... Er, no!
He's languising in the wilderness of the world rankings, yes .... Er, no!
He's been injury free, yes? .... Er, no!
He has awful technique, yes? .... Er,no!
He doesn't know how to win, yes? .... Er, no!

Give the lad a break!. I, and many more would kill to be as "bad" as Luke.

I would love to spend some time on the course with him.

Maybe he needs a new coach or a mind coach to "freshen" up a bit and set higher targets but he HAS the game!

Let him get over his injuries and let's see what happens.

Interestingley, how many majors did Singh win before he reached 40?

Don't write his epitaph yet!

 

[Imurg]

Donald's been playing decent golf for the last few years but has been hampered by injuries. Casey has been playing erratic golf up until this year and he hasn't had injuries.
You can't take a few months off and come back the same - it takes time. Ask Tiger.
With his ability I reckon he'll challenge this year and win next.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I think Donald wrist injury was actually more serious than originally thought and the fact that he played on with it for a while didn't help.

I think he's slowly getting his game back together and is making steady if unspectacular progress on the PGA tour and if he can get a full season under his belt this year he may be in a position to move on. However even when he first came onto the scene and played in Europe there always seemed to be a soft underbelly and a lack of that killer instinct needed when the heat is on on Sunday and its close at the top.

I think he'll make a very nice living thank you but to my mind doesn't have the mental strength (the game may possibly be good enough) to win a major. As for Barry Lane, what a geezer. He opened the new RA and posted a 5 under 65 having flown straight into Heathrow from the Swedish Open. Great guy and still able to regularly get into the top 20 and keep his card each year. I think he'll be fantastic once he gets to the seniors.

 

[theeaglehunter]

I agree with the talk of Donald's seemingly missing killer instinct. To me he is just too nice. There is no doubt he could / should be a more dominant force, however despite having a lovely swing- being a relatively short hitter on the tour must give him a big disadvantage against the big hitting, yet also straight players. Even before the wrist injury he wasn't performing in a way that would be expected of someone so talented, so I discount the impact of the injury in his underachievement to a fair degree. There is no doubt though pro golf is better for having Luke Donald and I do believe he will challenge for a title again in the future as when his game is on form he does have the potential to go very low- providing the courses don't keep getting lengthened!

 

[Herbie]

I love Barry Lane , I thought he was way past that! Golf may have served him well financially but not facially

 

[madandra]

I think he has lost the hunger. I remember watching a documentary about him and the highlight was going for a photo shoot to the Ralph Lauren HQ. Him, Nick Dougherty is another who is all image and mediocre ability. They opt for the cushty lifestyle without having to chase their optimum goal.

 

[CrapHacker]

Blimey.

Shoot him someone - put him out of his misery, poor old sod.

If that's the definition of a journeyman, then where does someone like Paul Broadhurst rate ? And even he's had his moments in the sun.

Ok so he's languishing somewhere round about the world no 25. Ok so he was a brilliant amateur. But he's short off the tee. Blimmin' short by modern pro standards. And with driving stats as bad as his, to achieve what he has, just shows how mentally strong he actually is.

It's always tough for a good little 'un to beat a good big 'un.

But Luke Donald is a darn good little 'un.

 

[Faldo_Fan]

I think that is being a bit harsh on Donald, he has just come back from major surgery on a wrist injury!

So how many people on this thread are willing to write off Ernie's chances of winning many more? Or Tiger?

Personally when i haven't picked up a club from a long lay off, i couldn't hit an elephants arse with a banjo, and i only normally play a couple of times a week, what must it be like for a tour pro?
Any lay off will effect your touch and feel around the greens and that's where all the scorings done!

Having said all of that, Luke is not really long enough off the tee in today's pro game!

 

[Deleted member 1147]

I think he's a cracking player.
He's only been a pro 8 years and has spent one of those in the worlds top 10.
He's been out a while due to injury but has still won over a million $ this year.
He has 3 top 10's in the majors, two of them being 3rd place and has won twice on the PGA tour. Casey won his 1st this year I think.
I reckon he'll be back in the top 10 by the end of the season.

 

[golfnut18]

as someone else said " id love to be as bad as luke" !!!
i think hes a great player but needs to make better use of the chances he gets. Hopefully he will find form after he recovers from his injury and win a few .