Donald already thinking Ryder Cup

2008-02-13

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By John Reger, PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

PACIFIC PALISADES, California (Ticker) - Though this week''sNorthern Trust Open is his first PGA Tour event of the season,Luke Donald has hardly been on a holiday.

Donald has spent the last three months traveling the globe,playing in tournaments on several continents and preparing foran all important Ryder Cup year.

"It''s obviously a huge deal for us," Donald said. "I''ve had twovery, very memorable Ryder Cups and one of my best experienceson the golf course have been on the Ryder Cups."

Donald would like another pleasant Ryder Cup memory and isworking to ensure he is on the team again this year. So the30-year-old plans again to hopscotch between the PGA andEuropean PGA Tours.

"For me, the big factors are where they fall on the schedule andwhat kind of golf courses they are at," Donald said. "And if Ifeel like I''m going to be successful on them."

Donald had a preview of his year at the end of 2007, travelingin two months to Spain, Japan, South Africa and California toplay in tournaments. While the extra traveling is a concern tosome, it had little effect on Donald.

"I still feel fit and young and if I''m going to do thetraveling, I might as well do it right now when hopefully cominginto the prime of my golf and my fitness," Donald said. "Rightnow, there are so many good events, it''s hard to turn down a lotof them."

After playing in both the Qatar Masters, where he finished tiedfor 25th, and Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, where he placed tiedfor 11th, Donald decided to start his season in SouthernCalifornia.

"I''ve started a little bit differently this year," Donald said."Obviously not winning last year, I wasn''t (eligible) forMercedes and so I thought I would give the Middle East a try,just to start my year there instead of going to Hawaii."

Donald plans on not too many changes to his schedule from lastyear.

"I''ll probably play one or two more in Europe and one or twomore less in the U.S.," Donald said. "But it will be prettysimilar. It won''t be a big difference."

Donald has played the Northern Trust at Riviera Country Club sixtimes and missed the cut three of those appearances, includinglast year. He has finished tied for 12th and 13th in the event.

"I don''t think I have performed that well here as a rule,"Donald said. "I think I''ve only made three out of six cuts andhaven''t finished as high up as I should do on a very classicgolf course that should suit my game."

Donald hopes his season continues to go well this week.

"It''s a beautiful place to come, I enjoy the golf course,"Donald said. "I think it''s one of the better courses we play allyear."