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By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 09:30 p.m. EDT, Jun 04, 2009
DUBLIN: Luke Donald took it all in as cheers and tears rained down on Jack Nicklaus at the British Open at St. Andrews four years ago.
Nicklaus coming out in an navy argyle sweater to mimic a famous 1978 pose. The crowd of 50,000 snapping pictures despite a ban on cameras. Donald admittedly holding back tears walking down 18, where Nicklaus snaked in a 13-foot birdie putt, a perfect finish for golf's greatest player in his final major.
When Donald and his wife get settled into their new home in Evanston, Ill., an autographed photo from that day will be prominently displayed. Presumably one of him, Nicklaus and playing partner Tom Watson on the Swilcan Bridge, it is one of 20 that Donald had Nicklaus sign, most donated to charity or given to family and friends.
When Donald shot an 8-under-par 64 Thursday to match the best opening round in Nicklaus' Memorial Tournament, Donald revisited the afternoon he immediately deemed ''the experience of a lifetime.''
''It's something I felt honored to be a part of,'' Donald said. ''The last couple of holes on Friday is something I'll always remember.''
He hopes to be able to say the same on Sunday.
Donald, a 31-year-old Englishman and Northwestern University graduate, took the first step toward what would be the biggest victory of his career, grabbing a 3-shot lead at Muirfield Village Golf Club. Going out in the first group before the wind kicked up, Donald made six consecutive birdies at holes 8-13, then two more at Nos. 15 and 16 for a string of eight in nine holes.
He needed only 20 putts, a tournament record and two shy of the PGA Tour mark. He also holed a wedge from 48 yards at No. 2 after opening with a 5.
''I guess all good rounds start with a bogey,'' Donald said.
Jason Day, Ted Purdy, Thomas Aiken and 2002 Memorial winner Jim Furyk fired 5-under 67s to tie for second.
Three-time champion Tiger Woods, seeking his first victory at Muirfield since 2001, carded a five-birdie, two-bogey round of 69. When Woods put his tee shot in the right bunker at No. 18, he muffed a chance to hit every fairway, which he's done only five times as a professional, the last coming in 2003.
''I've seen it coming together for the last month or so; unfortunately I would do it sporadically,'' Woods said of getting his swing back after left knee surgery last June. ''Today I did it all day. Everything felt good. My swing felt good, my putting stroke felt good.''
Among those at 1-under 71 were Stow's Ben Curtis, who birdied three of his final five holes (on the front nine) and David Duval, winless since the 2001 British Open. At No. 10, Duval hit a man in the head, drawing blood and requiring stitches.
But the day belonged to Donald, who leads the PGA Tour in five putting categories. Three of his five lowest putting rounds have come in the Memorial.
On what Donald called ''probably the fastest greens we'll play all year,'' he started his birdie barrage with a 15-footer from the fringe at the par-3 No. 8. Then he poured them in from 10, 25, 12, 6 and 8 feet, parred No. 14 despite hitting left in the water, then connected from 1 foot and 20 feet.
''You start putting well, you start believing in yourself a little bit,'' Donald said. ''I think putting is very mental. Once you feel like you're a good putter, it becomes easier.''
Donald established a relationship with Nicklaus through their endorsement deals with Royal Bank of Scotland and Donald's membership at the Bear's Club in Jupiter, Fla. Breaking his three-year victory drought in the tournament founded by Nicklaus would make it even better for Donald.
''I see him quite a bit in the winter,'' Donald said of Nicklaus. ''Behind the majors, this is up there as one of the best tournaments we play all year. It would mean a lot to play well here and have a chance to win. But it's extra special because I do know Jack a little bit better than some of the other guys.''
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/. Follow the Browns on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ABJ_Browns
DUBLIN: Luke Donald took it all in as cheers and tears rained down on Jack Nicklaus at the British Open at St. Andrews four years ago.
Nicklaus coming out in an navy argyle sweater to mimic a famous 1978 pose. The crowd of 50,000 snapping pictures despite a ban on cameras. Donald admittedly holding back tears walking down 18, where Nicklaus snaked in a 13-foot birdie putt, a perfect finish for golf's greatest player in his final major.
When Donald and his wife get settled into their new home in Evanston, Ill., an autographed photo from that day will be prominently displayed. Presumably one of him, Nicklaus and playing partner Tom Watson on the Swilcan Bridge, it is one of 20 that Donald had Nicklaus sign, most donated to charity or given to family and friends.
When Donald shot an 8-under-par 64 Thursday to match the best opening round in Nicklaus' Memorial Tournament, Donald revisited the afternoon he immediately deemed ''the experience of a lifetime.''
''It's something I felt honored to be a part of,'' Donald said. ''The last couple of holes on Friday is something I'll always remember.''
He hopes to be able to say the same on Sunday.
Donald, a 31-year-old Englishman and Northwestern University graduate, took the first step toward what would be the biggest victory of his career, grabbing a 3-shot lead at Muirfield Village Golf Club. Going out in the first group before the wind kicked up, Donald made six consecutive birdies at holes 8-13, then two more at Nos. 15 and 16 for a string of eight in nine holes.
He needed only 20 putts, a tournament record and two shy of the PGA Tour mark. He also holed a wedge from 48 yards at No. 2 after opening with a 5.
''I guess all good rounds start with a bogey,'' Donald said.
Jason Day, Ted Purdy, Thomas Aiken and 2002 Memorial winner Jim Furyk fired 5-under 67s to tie for second.
Three-time champion Tiger Woods, seeking his first victory at Muirfield since 2001, carded a five-birdie, two-bogey round of 69. When Woods put his tee shot in the right bunker at No. 18, he muffed a chance to hit every fairway, which he's done only five times as a professional, the last coming in 2003.
''I've seen it coming together for the last month or so; unfortunately I would do it sporadically,'' Woods said of getting his swing back after left knee surgery last June. ''Today I did it all day. Everything felt good. My swing felt good, my putting stroke felt good.''
Among those at 1-under 71 were Stow's Ben Curtis, who birdied three of his final five holes (on the front nine) and David Duval, winless since the 2001 British Open. At No. 10, Duval hit a man in the head, drawing blood and requiring stitches.
But the day belonged to Donald, who leads the PGA Tour in five putting categories. Three of his five lowest putting rounds have come in the Memorial.
On what Donald called ''probably the fastest greens we'll play all year,'' he started his birdie barrage with a 15-footer from the fringe at the par-3 No. 8. Then he poured them in from 10, 25, 12, 6 and 8 feet, parred No. 14 despite hitting left in the water, then connected from 1 foot and 20 feet.
''You start putting well, you start believing in yourself a little bit,'' Donald said. ''I think putting is very mental. Once you feel like you're a good putter, it becomes easier.''
Donald established a relationship with Nicklaus through their endorsement deals with Royal Bank of Scotland and Donald's membership at the Bear's Club in Jupiter, Fla. Breaking his three-year victory drought in the tournament founded by Nicklaus would make it even better for Donald.
''I see him quite a bit in the winter,'' Donald said of Nicklaus. ''Behind the majors, this is up there as one of the best tournaments we play all year. It would mean a lot to play well here and have a chance to win. But it's extra special because I do know Jack a little bit better than some of the other guys.''
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/. Follow the Browns on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ABJ_Browns
Comments
Click here to post your comments
Akron, OH
Posted 10:20 PM, 06/04/2009
The first three paragraphs of this article confused the heck out of me. I could not tell whether I was in Britain or Columbus . . . . . and then the tears . . . . . . who was doing the weeping?
Akron, OH
Posted 01:26 PM, 06/05/2009
Poor editing.
Rewrite!
