Luke Donald of England has been named The European Tour Golfer of the Month for April following a superb four week’’s golf which included a sensational debut in the Masters Tournament at Augusta National where he finished in a tie for third place.
It was the best finish by a debutant in the first Major Championship of 2005 since American Dan Pohl was second in 1982. Donald scored third and fourth rounds of 69, coming home in 32 on the final day, to hoist himself alongside fellow European Tour Member Retief Goosen in third place.
Donald was the unanimous choice of a panel comprising members of the media, who also took into account his ninth place finish in the Johnnie Walker Classic and his tie for sixth place in the BMW Asian Open during The European Tour’’s two week visit to China.
The Englishman earned the panel’’s vote ahead of another strong list of contenders which included South Africa’’s Ernie Els who finished tied sixth in the Johnnie Walker Classic before completing a magnificent 13 shot victory in the BMW Asian Open.
“It is the first time I have been given this honour so I am obviously very delighted,” said Donald. “Playing well in the Masters was the key to my success and finishing third was a great accomplishment for me, and then I followed that with a couple of good solid top tens in China. I have beaten a lot of top players to this award and it is great that I have been recognised in this way as one of Europe’’s top golfers.”
Other players considered for the award were; Robert-Jan Derksen of The Netherlands who became the first Dutchman to win multiple European Tour victories when he won the Madeira Island Open Caixa Geral de Depositos; Sweden’’s Peter Hanson, who claimed his maiden European Tour victory in the Jazztel Open de España en Andalucia; and Australians Peter Lonard and Adam Scott, who respectively captured the MCI Heritage on the US PGA Tour and the Johnnie Walker Classic on The European Tour.
The Award is presented to a European Tour Member each month from January to December for his performance on The European Tour International Schedule and in worldwide competition. At the end of the year, the panel will select The European Tour Golfer of the Year. Award winners already this year have been; England’’s Nick Dougherty (January), Thailand’’s Thongchai Jaidee (February) and Ireland’’s Padraig Harrington (March).
