May 29, 2011
VIRGINIA WATER, England -- A Northwestern Wildcat is the best golfer in the world.
With his playoff victory over fellow Englishman Lee Westwood Sunday at the European Tour's flagship BMW PGA Championship, Northwestern graduate Luke Donald overtook Westwood in the Official World Golf Ranking, becoming the No. 1-ranked player in the game of golf. Westwood referred to the BMW PGA Championship as golf's "fifth major" prior to the tourney.
Donald, who currently is the leading money winner on both the PGA and the European Tours this season, entered the BMW needing to finish ahead of Westwood in the tournament to supplant him in the OWGR. On Sunday, Westwood carded a 3-under 68 to tie Donald and force a playoff between the World No. 1 and the World No. 2. On the first playoff hole -- No. 18 at Wentworth -- Donald hit his approach to mere feet from the cup while Westwood's spun into a water hazard, giving Donald both the tournament title and No. 1 status.
"It's an amazing accomplishment. It's something I will be very proud of when I look back," Donald said. "I will savor this moment, it's very special. I think I will stay the same person, I hope I do."
Donald has kept much the same over the years, including his swing coach -- Northwestern head men's golf coach Pat Goss. While Goss and the Wildcats are headed to Stillwater, Okla., this week in search of an NCAA title, one of his pupils already is ranked No. 1 in the world.
Donald has been chasing the No. 1 spot all year with incredibly consistent and successful golf. After missing the cut in his first PGA TOUR event this year, Donald has finished in the top-10 in all nine of the tournaments he has played on both sides of Atlantic since then. Along the way, Donald won the WGC Match Play Championship in February, finished second in the World Match Play last week and fell in a playoff at the Heritage in April.
Donald played for Goss and Northwestern from 1997-2001, winning the 1999 NCAA Championship and helping NU to three-straight Big Ten titles during his career. He graduated with a degree in art theory and practice.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this release.
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