PGA Tour Confidential: Donald rallies at Disney, wins PGA Tour money title
Every week of the 2011 PGA Tour season, the editorial staff of the SI Golf Group will conduct an e-mail roundtable. Check in on Mondays for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors and join the conversation in the comments section below.
From one Donald to another: Luke Donald fired a 64 to win at Disney and clinch the PGA Tour money title.
Mark Godich, senior editor, Sports Illustrated: I loved it. It was all the more special because the two contenders played together all four days. Kudos to the PGA Tour for pairing them for the first two days, and what are the odds that they'd shoot similar enough scores to be paired the last two days? It was a classic horse race.
Alan Shipnuck, senior writer, Sports Illustrated: It was easy to nit-pick Donald as No. 1, with his poor play at the Opens and only one previous win this year in the U.S. This awesome win now becomes the signature accomplishment of his reign -- so far.
Cameron Morfit, senior writer, Golf Magazine: Luke always seemed like a not very happy guy. In retrospect, I guess that's because he knew what he was capable of achieving, and he wasn't achieving it. I'm happy for him and his team, especially his coach, Pat Goss, a good guy who's been in Luke's corner since he recruited him to Northwestern.
Stephanie Wei, contributor, SI Golf+: Exactly. That's what I found most impressive. And, he started from a considerable number of strokes back before making a back-nine run. Sound familiar?
Jeff Ritter, senior producer, Golf.com: Can't ask for much more from the final event of fall golf. Donald hit another gear on the back nine and proved he's No. 1 and the player of the year. Let the countdown to Augusta begin.
Charlie Hanger, executive editor, Golf.com: It's weird to say because of the pile of cash he won, but Donald's decision to play almost feels like a selfless act because it was such a boost for the Tour at the end of the season. Of course the run-of-the-mill NFL games today will still get more coverage, but good for Luke for showing up to make it interesting, and then delivering. Player of the year, and No. 1 in the world -- no doubt.
Godich: Don't forget Simpson. He got the ball rolling by playing last week, and saying it was with the intent of passing Donald in the money-title race. And then he delivered as well with a strong showing.
Mick Rouse, SI Golf+ Intern: I can't help but wonder how much bigger a story the chase for the money title would have been if Tiger and Phil were competing for it. It's a shame to think that a great sports story like this will go overlooked.
Gorant: Why is it a shame? The chase generated interest proportional to the popularity of the people involved. Tiger and Phil would have generated more interest because they've achieved a (whole) lot more over a long period of time. Plus, they have personas that have extended beyond the game.
Hanger: I think the question speaks to the difference between those guys and Luke and Webb. Tiger and Phil never would've shown up for these events just to win the money title.
Herre: Right. Woods and Mickelson won a sort of money title when they first turned pro.
WHO NEEDS A MAJOR THE MOST?
Dusek: Charl Schwartzel, Rory McIlroy, Darren Clarke and Keegan Bradley are never going to be asked, "So, when are you going to win a major?" Which player most needs to win a major championship in 2012 in order to validate his place in the golf world: Luke Donald, Lee Westwood, Steve Stricker or Dustin Johnson?
Godich: It has to be Donald. He is the clear No. 1 in the world, but ...
Gorant: Well, in terms of career achievements, Donald is the best player without a major, so I guess it's him. D.J. is probably the most talented of the crew and has had the best chances. Westwood and Stricker are both overachievers, in my book.
Ritter: Luke has to be first off that list; he's done everything else, and now it's time to deliver in a major. I'd rank Stricker second simply because, at 44, his time is quickly running out.
Herre: I would rank them in this order, neediest first: Donald, Johnson, Westwood, Stricker.
Godich: Why do you have Johnson so high? He's going to have many more shots than Westwood and Stricker.
Hanger: Not much argument at the top of the list, but I'd put Westwood at 2, Stricker at 3 and D.J. at 4. Johnson has a lot of years left, but time's running out on Stricker and Westwood.
Wei: Westy, Luke, Stricker and then D.J. No rush for Johnson, and no doubt he'll win several majors if he can stop pulling "Dustin Johnsons."
Herre: Johnson is probably the most gifted of the bunch and is already viewed as a slacker by some. He needs to shake that rep, and there's only one way. A win by Donald would be all about validation. I no longer expect Westwood or Stricker to win a major.
Morfit: As much as I want Westwood to get it done, I think Jim is right. At some point, because of the sheer number of close calls and his advancing years, his crazy run of near-misses went from encouraging to deflating.
Shipnuck: I say Westy because he's older than Luke and his brief reign at No. 1 was much less impressive. His window is closing.
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