Ryder Cup dream left in tatters for Donald
Luke Donald’s hopes of gate crashing Europe’s Ryder Cup team seem to have diminished after he withdrew from next month’s US PGA Championship with injury.
The 30-year-old is currently out of the automatic qualifying places and was in need of a decent showing at Oakland Hills to stand any chance of earning a wild card from captain Nick Faldo. Donald has not played since pulling out of the US Open with a wrist injury in June and Faldo admits that time is running out for the world No21.
“To pick a man who is injured would be a major story,” Faldo said.
Five events remain on the European Tour calendar before Faldo names his team on 31 August, but Donald is low down the pecking order.
Sergio Garcia and Ian Poulter, who finished runners-up to Open champion Padraig Harrington in the last two years, are both red-hot favourites to claim the wild card slots, although Paul Casey and Ryder Cup stalwart Colin Montgomerie are also in the mix.
Meanwhile, English amateur Chris Wood has turned professional following his impressive Open display.
The 20-year-old Bristolian finished joint fifth to take the silver medal at Royal Birkdale and has now signed up to the International Sports Management (ISM) group.
“Royal Birkdale was the best week of my life,” Wood said. “Now I am looking forward to an equally exciting and successful future in the professional ranks.”