Tag Archives: ascent

Justin Rose blooming so don"t look back – World of Golf

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Rose blooming, so let’s not rake over the coals

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UPDATED:

22:00 GMT, 22 October 2012

Did this column unwittingly play a small role in Justin Rose’s stirring ascent to the world’s top five Rose’s caddie Mark Fulcher wonders as much and comes up with a rather amusing anecdote as evidence.

Cast your mind back to December 2009 when, for a bit of fun, I decided to hand out Christmas gifts or coal to players who had been good or bad.

Regular readers will be well aware of my penchant for sitting on the fence on these matters, as illustrated by my somewhat lofty verdict on Rose’s season: ‘Biggest disappointment this year for me was Justin Rose.

That's better: Was Justin Rose motivated by this column

That's better: Was Justin Rose motivated by this column

More from Derek Lawrenson…

Derek Lawrenson: Overpaid Most earnings aren't on a par with Rose's fortune
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Derek Lawrenson: It's a Turkish delight as eight greats battle it out for big bucks
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Derek Lawrenson: Why we should be saying Yanks for the memories to gracious losers
01/10/12

Derek Lawrenson: McIlroy a victim of trash talk in American press ahead of Ryder Cup
24/09/12

Derek Lawrenson: Westwood at fever pitch to boost his holiday funds by $10million
17/09/12

Derek Lawrenson: Now Tiger has the chance to rewrite McIlroy's story
10/09/12

Derek Lawrenson: Old heads or long hitters Your wildcard call, Love
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World of Golf: Coming good in the Nic of time for the Ryder Cup
27/08/12

VIEW FULL ARCHIVE

He doesn’t normally follow a mediocre year with a lousy one but falling from 19th to 70th in the world speaks for itself. Once there were only a handful of players ahead of him. Now there are a handful of Englishmen.’

Poor Fulcher almost choked on his breakfast, and telephoned Rose with a plan. ‘Do you think Derek would take it in the right spirit if I had a lorry load of coal delivered to the Daily Mail’s office’ he asked. Actually, living 200 miles away, I’d have thought it hilarious.

Eighteen months on, Fulcher tells this story with a huge smile on his face. ‘I thought the piece was very unfair, if I’m honest, and I don’t know how much it motivated Justin but it certainly motivated me.

‘Now look at him. No-one has played better this season from tee to green and he is so close to finishing it off with his putting as well.’

Two weeks after that conversation, Rose began the run that justified his man’s faith, finishing runner-up in the Tour Championship in Atlanta, playing a starring role at the Ryder Cup, before winning the first Turkish Airlines World Golf Championship, beating Tiger Woods and Lee Westwood along the way.

Now he’s in China with Rory, Lee, Luke, Poults and the rest of the boys. It’s the start of what appears a month-long duel between Rose and Rory McIlroy to see who finishes the season as top dog on the European Tour.

No coal this year, then. But hey, if it helps, how can he possibly think that this is a great year when he hasn’t won three majors

Grand Larceny of Golf

The PGA Grand Slam of Golf begins in Bermuda on Tuesday but it might be better known as the Grand Larceny of Golf if Padraig Harrington walks off with the $600,000 first prize.

This is a 36-hole exhibition event designed for the four major winners each year — yet more gravy if you like.

Cheeky entry: Padraig Harrington is world No 54

Cheeky entry: Padraig Harrington is world No 54

Except this year the US PGA champion Rory McIlroy has a prior engagement in China (his place has been taken by Keegan Bradley), Open winner Ernie Els pulled up lame, first and second alternates Graeme McDowell and Tiger Woods made their excuses and flew to the Far East and well, gulp, they have somehow been left with the world No 54, Harrington.

The Irishman reckons winning would represent finished business, given he just lost out in 2007 and 2008 when he was a legitimate entrant.

A steal, I’d call it.

Quote of the week

‘It feels like I’m in a dream. I’m just waiting for somebody to slap me or pinch me or do something to wake me up.’

Ten years ago Tommy Gainey was working in a factory wrapping insulation on water heaters earning $8 an hour. On Sunday, the 37-year-old from South Carolina with the homegrown swing won $700,000 and claimed his first US Tour title in his home-town state beating, among others, Davis Love, his idol growing up. The American Dream We’ve just witnessed another heartwarming example.

Dream: Tommy Gainey (right) has had a dramatic change in fortunes

Dream: Tommy Gainey (right) has had a dramatic change in fortunes

Furyk comes up short yet again

One of the abiding images of this season is going to be Jim Furyk with his hands on his knees. He struck that disconsolate pose at the US Open, the Bridgestone Invitational, the Ryder Cup and again on Sunday at the McGladrey Classic in Georgia.

All four events came down to how Furyk played the 18th hole and in all four instances he came up woefully short. Four pars and he would have been in an 18-hole play-off for a major, a winner of a World Championship event and an American hero at Medinah. Instead, one of the gentlemen of the game ended up with nothing.

Have we ever seen such a litany of final-hole failure from one player in the same season before — particularly one with a reputation as a hardened competitor who gets the job done Gamely, Furyk gave his season a B-plus rating, which would be fair enough if golf were a 17-hole sport. But it won’t feel like a B-plus year when he wakes up screaming in the middle of the night.

Roberto Mancini says Joe Hart needs to be cocky

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Mancini insists Hart needs to be cocky if he is to continue ascent

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UPDATED:

23:42 GMT, 19 October 2012

Roberto Mancini accepts that Joe Hart can be ‘cocky’ but insists it has helped the Manchester City goalkeeper become one of the best in Europe.

The accusation was levelled at Hart by television pundit Roy Keane after the 25-year-old keeper held up his hands to the error that led to Poland’s equaliser against England on Wednesday.

It came two weeks after Hart earned rave reviews for a world-class display for City against Borussia Dortmund, and Mancini was quick to defend his player.

Cocky: Joe Hart needs to retain his attitude according to Roberto Mancini

Cocky: Joe Hart needs to retain his attitude according to Roberto Mancini

‘If you want to be a good keeper, you should be cocky,’ said the City manager. ‘Every keeper is like this. It is important because it’s different to another position.

‘Last week, Wayne Rooney said on Twitter that Joe is the best keeper in the world but today he is cocky.

‘It is my opinion that Joe is the best keeper in England and one of the best in Europe.

‘He is strong enough for this. He knows he is one of the best but he wants to continue to work hard.

‘Usually Joe saves everything but anyone can make a mistake. It is impossible to be perfect. Only Mario (Balotelli) is perfect every day!’

Mancini was already frustrated that the international break arrived just when his team’s form was showing signs of improvement.

The 24-hour postponement of England’s World Cup qualifier in Warsaw has given him another headache as City face a difficult trip to the Hawthorns on Saturday where West Bromwich Albion have won all four of their Premier League games this season.

It meant that Hart, James Milner and Joleon Lescott only returned to training with their teammates at Carrington on Friday, and the Italian believes the fixture could have been switched to Sunday.

‘The game after the international
break is always difficult,’ said Mancini. ‘I think that sometimes in
this situation we can move our game from Saturday to Sunday. It’s easy
because we are not on television and we play at three o’clock on
Saturday.

‘I am worried because for Joe, Joleon and James Milner it is the first day they can train and tomorrow we play.’

Nearly there: Mancini says Hart is the best keeper in England

Nearly there: Mancini says Hart is the best keeper in England

The World Cup qualifiers dealt City another blow with David Silva returning to the club nursing the hamstring injury he suffered in the early stages of Spain’s draw with France on Tuesday night.

However scans have showed that it is not as serious as first feared.

Bounce back: Hart made an error for England against Poland

Bounce back: Hart made an error for England against Poland

Tony Martin retains World cycling time trial crown

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Martin retains world time trial crown as Dowsett comes ninth

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UPDATED:

15:49 GMT, 19 September 2012

Germany's Tony Martin successfully defended his men's time-trial title at the UCI Road World Championships in Holland on Wednesday with a narrow triumph over Taylor Phinney of the United States.

Martin, the Olympic silver medallist behind Bradley Wiggins, completed the 45.7-kilometre route in 58 minutes 38.76 seconds to claim Germany's second time-trial success in Limburg after Judith Arndt won the elite women's event on Tuesday.

Phinney finished just over five seconds behind in 58mins 44.13secs, with bronze going to Vasil Kiryienka of Belarus in 1:00:23.75.

Champions again: Germany's Tony Martin celebrates with his gold medal after winning the Elite Men's Time Trial at the UCI Road World Championships

Champion again: Germany's Tony Martin celebrates with his gold medal after winning the Elite Men's Time Trial at the UCI Road World Championships

Alex Dowsett, Great Britain's sole representative in the absence of Wiggins and Chris Froome, finished eighth in 1:01:04.82, with Spain's Alberto Contador ninth.

Contador, the Vuelta a Espana champion, was the penultimate rider to take to the course, two minutes ahead of Martin, but was overtaken by the German after around two thirds of the route.

Phinney was four seconds faster than Martin at the first time check, but the German moved 13 seconds ahead at the second.

Two in a row! Martin successfully defended his title, beating the American rider Taylor Phinney by five seconds

Two in a row! Martin successfully defended his title, beating the American rider Taylor Phinney by five seconds in Valkenburg, Holland

At the 38.4km time-check, Martin held an eight-second advantage over Phinney, meaning the finishing ascent of the Cauberg would determine who would emerge victorious.

Phinney had Sweden's Fredrik Kessiakoff, who started two minutes ahead of him, in his sights in the latter stages, giving him a target to chase.

The American was fourth in the road race and time-trial at the London Olympics but ensured he would take a medal by finishing provisionally first with just Martin and Contador, who was out of contention, behind him on the road.

Aerodynamism: Martin gets his head down in the saddle on the time trial course

Aerodynamism: Martin gets his head down in the saddle on the time trial course

The question was the colour of the medal but Martin powered over the Cauberg and secured victory to retain the rainbow jersey he won in Copenhagen 12 months ago.

Alastair Cook will revel in role as Test captain – Ian Bell

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Cook will revel in new role as England Test skipper, insists Bell

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UPDATED:

18:19 GMT, 3 September 2012

Ian Bell anticipates a seamless changing of the guard for England as Alastair Cook takes over the Test captaincy from Andrew Strauss.

It took most England followers, and several players too, by surprise when Strauss last week announced his resignation as captain and retirement from professional cricket at the age of 35.

Somewhat less surprising was the identity of his successor, Cook having already taken over the one-day international leadership and evidently long been destined and groomed to captain his country in Test cricket too.

Skipper: Cook has been handed the role of captaining England's Test team

Skipper: Cook has been handed the role of captaining England's Test team

Only the timing of Cook's ascent then is of any concern. But Bell is confident that, at the age of 27, his fellow ODI opener is ready to assume Strauss' mantle and plot England's fortunes by leading from the front in two formats on and off the field.

The ongoing controversy over Kevin Pietersen's current alienation from the England camp, and prospects or otherwise of the prodigal's possible return, remains an inevitable complication with which Cook will have to become involved at some stage.

Bell is convinced, though, that Cook will prove eminently able to deal with all of the above.

'I think he will be fantastic,' he said.

'He's had a responsibility in the Test team anyway, as vice-captain.

'He has been right there with Straussy.'

Cook was indebted to Bell on Monday for a match-winning 88 at Lord's as England won their second match in three days against South Africa, to turn a 1-0 NatWest Series deficit into a 2-1 lead – with just one match remaining, in Nottingham on Wednesday.

Cook's England will therefore top the International Cricket Council's ODI rankings for the rest of the year, irrespective of whether they win or lose at Trent Bridge.

Experience: Cook has been captaining the one-day side for the past year

Experience: Cook has been captaining the one-day side for the past year

Bell, meanwhile, simply has no qualms about the extra onus on Cook.

'He has led this one-day team incredibly well, and I don't think it will be anything strange to him; I think he will take to it very easily,' said Bell.

'He will probably have his own stamp on things (in Tests), like he has in the one-dayers.

'But we're very lucky, because I think it will be quite an easy changeover.'

Bell is similarly optimistic that England have the right formula in their batting order not just to close out victories in home conditions, but to up the ante on alien surfaces.

They singularly failed to do so, in a 5-0 hammering away to India just under a year ago.

Bell was surplus to requirements in the middle order back than, and many still wonder whether his touch timing will easily transfer to sub-continental climes – or if Jonathan Trott, who shared a century stand with him at Lord's, can bat at the right tempo when bigger totals need to be set or chased.

'We have to be flexible,' said Bell.

Reveling: Bell has returned to the 50-over side on top form this year

Reveling: Bell has returned to the 50-over side on top form this year

'This was a case of setting a platform, but there might be times when we have to go a little harder.

'I'm up for that – I think I showed [in the rain-ruined first ODI against South Africa] at Cardiff that, if the time comes, I will go harder.'

Bell's form has been a revelation since he replaced Pietersen at the top of the order this summer, and English pitches present a test to which he is ideally suited.

'With two new balls in England, you have to be prepared to get through the first few overs.

'It stops swinging quite quickly.

'When we go to the sub-continent or when we are chasing big scores, we are going to have to do that… and we have the power at the end to get us over the line.'

Bell echoes Cook's reaction to England's ODI table-topping status – reasoning that defining ventures lie ahead.

Asked if the No 1 tag feels entirely appropriate at this stage, he said: 'Far from it.

New era: Cook will lead England's Test side out in India

New era: Cook will lead England's Test side out in India

'I've really enjoyed being part of it this summer, but we have some big challenges coming up.

'To go to India again in Tests and one-dayers will be a massive challenge, and it will be exciting to be a part of that.

'As a group, we are working as hard as we can.

'There are so many areas where we can get better… our fielding hasn't been great.

'We want to get better at every discipline.'

Bell may find his trip to India interrupted, for the best of reasons.

The birth of his first child is due in November, shortly after the start of England's Test tour, and it will be in keeping with recent policy if – like Strauss, Matt Prior and others before him – the 30-year-old flies home to be present.

'I've not 100 per cent thought about coming home,' he said.

'I'll have to speak to (coach) Andy (Flower) and see what happens.

'It's very exciting. I'm looking forward to it.'

London 2012 Olympics: Nicola Adams ready to fulfill dream at Games

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Adams to fulfill lifelong dream after women's boxing is added to Games

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UPDATED:

18:11 GMT, 25 July 2012

Olympics 2012

Nicola Adams once worked as an extra in
Emmerdale and Coronation Street to support her Olympic dream but now
stands less than two weeks away from completing a story the most
audacious scriptwriters couldn't muster.

Adams fought for years with no funding and little acclaim and the list of casual jobs she took in order to support her boxing included spells in front of the television cameras as well as a short stint as a tiler.

Even Adams' belated ascent to the world of a fully-funded, full-time athlete was threatened when her sport's elevation to the Olympic Games came at a time when she was laid up with a career-threatening back injury.

Long way round: Nicola Adams fought for years without funding, but is set for an Olympic bow

Long way round: Nicola Adams fought for years without funding, but is set for an Olympic bow

For the Leeds 29-year-old – Great Britain's most decorated female boxer with three world silver medals to her name – it makes her arrival at the Olympic village with the rest of the 10-strong host nation boxing team all the sweeter.

Almost: Adams says she was close to giving up boxing

Almost: Adams says she was close to giving up boxing

Adams said: 'It was always my dream to compete in the Olympic Games but whether it was ever going to come true or not was another matter.

'There were plenty of times when I thought it was never going to happen.

'I was really close to giving up. It's hard to be able to train full-time and earn enough money to live as well. It's only because of my friends and family and sponsors that I was able to keep boxing and get where I am today.'

'Over the years I had to take quite a few jobs to pay for my sport. I loved being an extra – I've been in the Rovers and in the post office in Emmerdale. It's something I'd like to do again in the future after boxing.'

Adams is one of Great Britain's history-making trio of women's boxers, with reigning world champion Savannah Marshall also tipped for gold at middleweight, and world bronze medallist Natasha Jonas at lightweight.

The sport's introduction is also good news for the medal favourites in the men's team like Luke Campbell and Thomas Stalker, who have found much of the focus of the media attention switched elsewhere.

Stalker said: 'I think the spotlight deserves to be on the women because they can fight. If you win medals then you deserve to be in the spotlight.

'They are great fighters and they have won medals at the highest level.'

Tour de France 2012: Ryder Hesjedal pulls out

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Heartbreak for Hesjedal as Giro d'Italia winner pulls out of Tour

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UPDATED:

11:28 GMT, 7 July 2012

Giro d'Italia champion Ryder Hesjedal abandoned the Tour de France ahead of stage seven on Saturday.

The Canadian had been tipped as a contender for the yellow jersey, but sustained what his Garmin-Sharp team described as 'a massive haematoma on his left hip and leg' on stage six and opted out of the race ahead of the 199-kilometre route from Tomblaine to La Planche des Belles Filles.

Garmin-Sharp directeur sportif Jonathan Vaughters wrote on Twitter: 'Hesjedal is not going to start. Sad, but he'll be back.'

Heartbreak: Hesjedal (centre) has had to pull out of the Tour

Heartbreak: Hesjedal (centre) has had to pull out of the Tour

Hesjedal was involved in a major collision around 26km from the end of Friday's stage to Metz, losing more than 13 minutes as a result.

It was a crash his British team-mate David Millar, riding in his 11th Tour, described as one of the scariest of his career.

Almost all of the Garmin-Sharp team were involved in the collision, with Tom Danielson abandoning as a result of the incident after dislocating his shoulder and suffering numerous other injuries.

Hesjedal had been the best placed Garmin-Sharp rider at the start of the day in 108th and his absence meant the team were set to revise their goals, with Irishman Dan Martin and Millar poised to be given opportunities to go for stage wins.

Martin, nephew of 1987 Tour winner
Stephen Roche, is a climber and the 5.9km, category one ascent to the
finish today was set to be his first chance, while the polka dot King of
the Mountains jersey could also be a target.

Garmin-Sharp were reduced to a team of six when South Africa champion Robbie Hunter also abandoned.

In contention: Hesjedal had been among the favourites for the yellow jersey

In contention: Hesjedal had been among the favourites for the yellow jersey

Hunter wrote on Twitter: 'Got stress fractures in a vertebrae. Been trying to ride through the pain but woke up this am & I'm battling to walk never mind ride.at this point I gotta worry about my health!'

Hesjedal and Hunter were among eight riders who finished on Friday, but did not start on Saturday, taking the total number of withdrawals to 16 after 198 riders began last Saturday in Liege.

Spanish team Movistar now have five riders after two more abandoned, two withdrew from Dutch squad Rabobank, Oscar Freire from Katusha quit, along with Amets Txurreuka (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and Hubert Dupont (Ag2r La Mondiale).

After 40km a seven-man escape group had established an advantage of almost six minutes.

The best-placed rider in the breakaway was Christophe Riblon (Ag2r La Mondiale), who began the day in 55th place, five minutes four seconds behind race leader Fabian Cancellara (RadioShack-Nissan).

Riblon was accompanied by Chris Anker Sorensen (Saxo Bank-Tinkoff), Martin Velits (Omega Pharma-QuickStep), Michael Albasini (Orica-GreenEdge), Cyril Gautier (Europcar), Dmitriy Fofonov (Astana) and Luis-Leon Sanchez (Rabobank).

Tyson Fury falsely arrested for murder and robbery in Holland

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Wrongly accused: Fury back on track after 'murder' rap ahead Maddalone fight

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UPDATED:

22:32 GMT, 27 June 2012

Tyson Fury resumes his ascent towards a world heavyweight title challenge next week after being falsely arrested in Holland on suspicion of armed robbery and murder.

The 6ft 9in Fury was pulled over by police while driving to his training camp here on the Dutch-Belgian border following a hold-up nearby in which a man was shot dead.

He and four members of his team were subjected to a nine-hour interrogation after being forced to strip to their underpants in a local police cell.

On the ropes: Tyson Fury in Rotterdam ahead of his fight

On the ropes: Tyson Fury in Rotterdam ahead of his fight

The giant hope of the travellilng community is preparing to fight New York slugger Vinny Maddalone in Clivedon, Somerset on Saturday week.

He says: 'When we were stopped on the way to the gym I thought I must have been driving too fast. But they ordered us out of the car, told us to kneel at gunpoint, handcuffed us behind our backs, put forensic gloves on us and then made us lie face down in the dirt. I heard a police helicopter arrive overhead.

'They were shouting at us in Dutch. I didn’t understand a word. I kept telling them I was a boxer in training for a big fight but they wouldn’t listen.We were taken to the station and had to strip.

Wrongly accused: Fury was stopped on the Dutch Belgian boarder by police

Wrongly accused: Fury was stopped on the Dutch Belgian boarder by police

'Apart from the shock I wasn’t too worried because I knew it was mistaken identity. We had just happened to fit the description of the gang of large men they were desperate to catch.

'They stopped us at nine in the morning and they eventually let us go at eight in the evening. They apologised and gave us flip flops and paper sheets to wrap ourselves in so we could walk back to the car.

'We got our clothes back three days later. It was startling but strange things do happen in life.

Unbeaten run: Fury beat Dereck Chisora last summer

Unbeaten run: Fury beat Dereck Chisora last summer

'The most important thing for me is that my six weeks of training here have been perfect and I’m in the best shape of my life.’

The bout with Maddalone is the first of five fights planned by promoter Mick Hennessy in a busy build up to a promised world title clash with either Wladimir or Vitali Klitschko next year.

Fury has committed himself to a rigorous work and diet regime, with Hennessy saying: ‘’I’ve always believed he will be a world champion but I never expected to see him get into such great condition. I thought he would be one of those heavy, big punching heavyweights but now he’s turnned himself into a real athlete.’

Fury is returning to Britain after finishing sparring here yesterday.

He says: 'It’s been a great experience here and the Dutch people have been wonderful……apart from my getting arrested. And to think I came here to get away from all the distractions at home.’

Fury v Maddalone is live on Channel 5, Saturday July 7 from 10 pm. Tickets from www.hennessysports.com

Wayne Rooney hailed for helping Danny Welbeck secure spot in Euro 2012 squad

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Mentor Rooney hailed for helping Welbeck develop and secure spot in Euro 2012 squad

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UPDATED:

12:53 GMT, 19 May 2012

Striker Danny Welbeck is grateful for the part Manchester United team-mate Wayne Rooney has played in his ascent to England's Euro 2012 squad.

The 21-year-old plays alongside Rooney at club level and is one option to replace the former Everton man as he serves a suspension for the first two games of the tournament.

Welbeck told the Sun: 'I owe Wayne a lot. He has been a terrific friend and a brilliant help to me. We have really forged a great partnership.

Double act: Rooney and Welbeck

Double act: Rooney and Welbeck

'And he is amazing during a game. He never stops yapping in my ear, telling me, “Daniel this” and “Daniel that”.

'Wayne's funny like that, he calls me Daniel on the pitch, even though most people call me Danny. Yet off the pitch it's Danny or Welbz. Don't ask me why.

'I'm so lucky he wants me to do well and is always trying to advise what's best for me.

'You can't buy that sort of insight. He knows what it's like as a young player coming through in the Premier League and with England.'

Mentor: Rooney looks after Welbeck

Mentor: Rooney looks after Welbeck

Welbeck revealed United team-mate Rio Ferdinand, who was left out of Roy Hodgson's squad, contacted the striker to congratulate him on his inclusion.

Welbeck said: 'He made the effort to get in touch which I think tells you all about the man.

'He was obviously gutted not to be a part of it and must have been really down. But he still took the time to contact me and say “Well done”. I'm really disappointed for him.'

World of Golf: Donald is back on top and enjoying the view

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Donald is back on top and enjoying the view

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UPDATED:

23:02 GMT, 19 March 2012


Force: Luke Donald triumphed in Florida

Force: Luke Donald triumphed in Florida

On the plane to Miami a fortnight ago, Luke Donald's caddie, John McLaren, couldn't keep the smile off his face when I asked him about Rory McIlroy deposing his man to become the new world No 1.

'Best thing that could have happened,' he said. 'A wake-up call, I think they call it.'

So now we know, following Donald's stirring victory in the Transitions Championship in Tampa on Sunday to reclaim top spot.

Clearly, when he tweeted McIlroy a fortnight ago and humorously told him to 'enjoy the view', there was a subliminal add-on that didn't wing its way through the ether. It read: 'Because, buddy, it isn't going to last very long.'

To think, this glorious toing and froing among our top golfers for pole position began 18 months ago with Lee Westwood learning of his ascent while buying a pair of washing-up gloves in his local supermarket. How the stakes have risen.

First Donald beats Westwood in a play-off to win the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. Then McIlroy holds off Tiger Woods to win the Honda Classic. Now Donald has won another play-off, this time of the four-man variety, with a classy birdie at the par-four 18th that had proved the hardest hole all day.

Tough at the top: Donald appears to have been inspired by Rory McIlroy

Tough at the top: Donald appears to have been inspired by Rory McIlroy

Throw in Donald's win in Florida last
November, when nothing else would do if he was to claim the US Tour
money list, and that's play of the highest calibre under pressure.

If truth be told Donald, following a quiet start to the season, was feeling a little trampled in the rush to proclaim McIlroy as the man of the next decade.

In his last event before the Masters at Augusta in a fortnight's time, this was a 'don't forget me' cry of piercing clarity.

More from Derek Lawrenson…

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VIEW FULL ARCHIVE

What we're seeing here are two players
revelling in a tennis-like rivalry, two model professionals using each
other's successes to drive themselves on, with UK golf the clear winner.

There's no animosity either, as there often is with two men badly wanting the same thing.

'Well, it was good while it lasted!' tweeted McIlroy, on Sunday. 'Congrats Luke Donald! Impressive performance!'

It's not just these two either. Do you think world No 3 Westwood will take the top two sprinting clear of him lying down

Then there's Justin Rose, whose win at the WGC-Cadillac Championship nine days ago can partly be attributed to using Donald as inspiration.

And what about those currently pushed to the margins, like Paul Casey, Ian Poulter and Graeme McDowell They are going to want a piece of the action again, aren't they

So to the final leg of the four-tournament Florida swing with, incredibly, all four titles currently residing in UK hands, as the Scot Martin Laird prepares to defend the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill.

The sunshine state, they call it, and nothing in UK sport is in a sunnier state right now than golf.

Ernie's Augusta deadline

This is the final week for players not currently exempt for the Masters to gain a last-minute invitation via a ranking inside the world's top 50.

Anxious times, therefore, for 57th-placed Robert Rock in Morocco and 62nd-ranked Ernie Els at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Dreaming of Augusta: But Ernie Els missed out at the Transitions Championship

Dreaming of Augusta: But Ernie Els missed out at the Transitions Championship

Els had a golden opportunity to secure
his berth on Sunday but bogeyed the last two holes to go from one ahead
at the Transitions Championship to one behind.

'It's going to be tough to get over this, I'm not going to lie to you,' he said.

The vast army who have admired his languid grace over the years will hope he can somehow do so at Bay Hill.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Unbelievable experience at the White House last night! Big thanks to Barack Obama for the invite! We’ll get that golf swing sorted soon!

Rory McIlroy’s cheeky tweet following a soiree he attended in Washington hosted by America’s golf-loving President.

Farewell to America's Wooldridge

If ever there was a man befitting the phrase 'a southern gentleman' it was Furman Bisher, who passed away on Sunday at the grand age of 93. Quite simply, this year's Masters won't feel the same without him.

Bisher was the Ian Wooldridge of American sportswriting, whose columns for the Atlanta Constitution for more than 60 years added up to a masterclass in the art of writing pointedly, but always with manners, fairness and style.

'Through his honest and entertaining prose, he became the iconic voice of the Masters throughout Georgia and a living legend to many, me included,' said the current Masters chairman, Billy Payne, on Furman's retirement from newspapers in 2009.

Here are some words Furman wrote on the passing of the boxer Joe Louis that, upon changing the word fighting to writing, could serve as his own epitaph: 'Then they lowered him into the ground and that is all that remains of the great fighting man, except a memory that shall become a national resource.'

Kell Brook wants to fight Amir Khan

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Brook wants blockbuster Khan showdown after outclassing Hattton

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UPDATED:

14:29 GMT, 18 March 2012

Kell Brook is targeting world title glory and a blockbuster showdown with Amir Khan which promoter Eddie Hearn insists can attract 50,000 people at an outdoor venue in England.

Brook continued his ascent to elite level this weekend as he wowed 10,000 fans at the Motorpoint Arena in his Sheffield hometown by outclassing British welterweight rival Matthew Hatton.

The unbeaten 25-year-old, who has been on the cusp of a world title challenge for some time, proved his box office appeal and big-fight temperament with a superb performance of poise and power en route to a wide unanimous decision victory.

Bring it on! Brook wants Khan showdown

Bring it on! Brook wants Khan showdown

Brook has long been linked with fellow Englishman Amir Khan and has called for a fight between the pair for years.

Now, however, he is making a name for himself in his own right and with a world title belt around his waist, hopes he can eventually lure former light-welterweight champion Khan into a scrap.

'Of course I want Khan,' he said. 'I've been banging on about Amir Khan, but I'm going to do my own thing and if that fight happens, it happens, and I'll smash him.'

Matchroom boss Hearn said: 'Money talks. We've sold 10,000 for Kell Brook v Matthew Hatton. I could sell 40,000 tickets for Kell Brook against Amir Khan. It's a pay-per-view fight.

'It's probably one of the few fights that is going to bring back pay-per-view television to British boxing. Will Amir Khan take it I wouldn't imagine so.

'It has to be a pay-per-view, outdoor fight, because he's got big revenue coming from HBO in America. So to bring it to seven, eight, nine o'clock at night, there has to be big money in the UK. With 40,000 fans and pay-per-view TV, that's a fight that can happen.

Outclassed: Brook was the comfortable points victor over Hatton

Outclassed: Brook was the comfortable points victor over Hatton

'Let me tell you, Kell would absolutely destroy Amir Khan. We'll fight him. We'll fight him next, 100 per cent and make it happen outdoors with a crowd of 40,000 or 50,000.'

Hearn insists the numbers add up.
'It's an easy fight to make money from,' he said. 'They would both get
millions of pounds. It sounds easy. Or for us, we'll come back here in
July and sell 10,000 tickets again (against someone else).'

Brook insists he just wants big names and big fights.

He said: 'I want whoever I can get my hands on. I'll be watching Vyacheslav Senchenko v Paulie Malignaggi and Andre Berto v Victor Ortiz with great interest.

'I want to be fighting at that top table now with elite fighters. I think I've proved I deserve to be there.

'Forget Khan. I'm doing my own thing. I'll get a belt and will be packing big arenas out.

Rematch: Khan will first fight Lamont Peterson

Rematch: Khan will first fight Lamont Peterson

'I've done this since I was nine years old and I'm buzzing at the moment. The dream is still popping. We're still unbeaten and it's going to stay that way for a long time.'

Hatton delivered a ringing endorsement after being on the end of a boxing lesson.

The former European champion, who pushed vaunted WBC light-middleweight champion Saul Alvarez all the way last year, said: 'I rate Kell very highly after that.

'He's the best fighter I've faced and I include Alvarez in that. Kell broke my nose in the first round and I didn't think things could get much worse. I was wrong about that.'