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Players Championship: Luke Donald in shape to make some history at Sawgrass

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British star Donald in shape to make some history at Players Championship

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UPDATED:

21:30 GMT, 9 May 2012

How's this for a snapshot image of the changing face of golf

Rory McIlroy is the 10-1 favourite for the Players Championship starting on Thursday, followed by Luke Donald and Lee Westwood at 14-1, with Phil Mickelson at 20-1 and Tiger Woods offered at – wait for it – 25-1.

The bookmakers are clearly placing their faith in the UK trio to live up to their positions at the top of the world rankings.

Exciting times: But Donald faces a real fight to hold on to his world No 1 title at Sawgrass

Exciting times: But Donald faces a real fight to hold on to his world No 1 title at Sawgrass

LEADING TEE TIMES

1.29pm: L Oosthuizen (SA), J Day (A), I Poulter (Eng). 6.29pm: J Rose (Eng), M Kaymer (G), A Scott (A).

6.39pm: L Donald (Eng), B Haas (US), L Westwood (Eng).

6.49pm: R McIlroy (NI), P Mickelson (US), S Stricker (US).

10th tee – 1.39pm: R Fowler, H Mahan, T Woods (all US).

For McIlroy, this will be a wonderful test of his new-found resolve to curb his natural instincts when the occasion demands, and it will be fascinating to see how he fares.

For the two Englishmen, there are no such caveats. As Donald's caddie, John McLaren, says: 'I can't think of another venue we play all year that is more suited to Luke's strategic type of game.'

Westwood's coach, Pete Cowen, was equally bullish. 'He's never practised or played better than in the build-up to this event,' he said, before adding, smiling: 'He knows it too.'

There was certainly no mistaking the confident air Westwood exuded yesterday as he seeks to maintain the momentum stemming from his final-round 66 that gave him a share of fifth place in the Wells Fargo Championship last Sunday.

In the swing of things: McIlroy (right) will tee off as the world No 1

In the swing of things: McIlroy (right) will tee off as the world No 1

Westwood was not here last year owing to some scheduling issues but knew when it was on that he had made a mistake.

'Watching it on television I missed not being here,' said the 39-year-old, who finished tied fourth in 2010.

All smiles: |But Tiger will start the week at 25/1

All smiles: But Tiger will start the week at 25/1

'At the time I thought it was the right thing to do and I stand by that, but it is an event I really enjoy on a course that fits my eye, so it's great to be back, and particularly now I'm a member of this tour.'

Over the past 12 weeks the world No 1 ranking has changed hands no fewer than five times between Donald and present incumbent McIlroy, partly owing to the fact they've been playing in different tournaments since the Masters.

'That will all change over the next few weeks and I think that's going to make the back and forth between the two of us even more exciting,' said Donald.

McLaren likened it to a tennis match and mischievously suggested Donald send a tweet to McIlroy's racket-wielding girlfriend, Caroline Wozniacki, to see what she thought.

'I'd say going into this event it's 40-30 on Rory's serve,' he said.

In the build-up, Donald has been working diligently on his fabled short game that unusually failed him at Augusta.

'I think one of the reasons why this course suits me is that the short game is all-important round here,' he said.

'I left Augusta very disappointed with that area of my game, it wasn't sharp enough and let me down. But I feel like I'm back on track.'

Everything looks in place, therefore, at an event that will never carry the cache of a major championship but, for the majority of players like Donald and Westwood plus fellow Englishmen Ian Poulter and Justin Rose, would represent the biggest victory of their careers.

Adding to the spice are a number of tasty pairings, with Woods teeing off alongside Rickie Fowler this morning, Mickelson partnering McIlroy, while Donald and Westwood will stroll the fairways together this afternoon.

It is 44 years since Tony Jacklin achieved a small piece of golfing history in this part of the world when he won the Jacksonville Open, the first victory by a European on the US Tour since the 1920s.

Could this week see the first English win in the 38-year history of the Players

Rickie Fowler in tune with Golf Boys – Derek Lawrenson

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Rickie's in tune with Golf Boys

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UPDATED:

22:38 GMT, 7 May 2012

Perhaps the rest of golf's elite will now go down to the local fancy dress shop, pick a silly outfit and make a wacky pop video. Either that or the Golf Boys will change their name to the Winning Boys for the follow-up.

You remember Bubba Watson, Hunter Mahan and Rickie Fowler, three of the four self-proclaimed Golf Boys who made Oh, Oh, Oh their pop parody poking fun at the game's staid image which became a YouTube sensation

Now they could be forgiven for standing on the 18th green and doing a chorus of We Are The Champions.

Golf boys and girls: Rickie Fowler (third left) with friends and family including fellow band member Ben Crane (left)

Golf boys and girls: Rickie Fowler (third left) with friends and family including band member Ben Crane (left)

Who needs Tiger Woods Certainly not American golf with this trio of crowd pleasers who, between them over the past 10 weeks, just happen to have won the Masters, a world golf championship event and two of the better titles on the US Tour. Let's hear it for the Funboy Three.

Golf blog

Fowler is the latest to pick up the flame marked American golfing revival mentioned in this space last week. If the future is not orange, then the brightly-coloured one certainly hinted some of it will be with his thrilling victory in a play-off on Sunday night against Rory McIlroy and fellow American DA Points in the Wells Fargo.

It was always a mystery why Fowler had not won in America given his nerveless performance at the 2010 Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor, where he took the last four holes of his singles match to force a half and keep his nation's hopes alive.

Perhaps he needed the matchplay-like feel of sudden-death. On the hardest hole at Quail Hollow on Sunday, the 18th, the 23-year-old with the Lanny Wadkins-like gunslinger's swing took dead aim and landed his second shot four feet from the flag to set up a winning birdie.

Consolation prize: Fowler beat new world no 1 Rory McIlroy (left) in a play-off at Quail Hollow

Consolation prize: Fowler beat new world no 1 Rory McIlroy (left) in a play-off at Quail Hollow

You could tell by Rory's face that if he had to lose, let it be to a shot like that. McIlroy's consolation was that joint second place saw him displace Luke Donald as world No 1 again.

Why has it all come so good for Fowler, Mahan and Watson It's surely another example of the miraculous power of a friendly rivalry. We've seen it with the UK Boys at the top of the world rankings and now we are seeing it with the Farm Boys.

On to Sawgrass then and the Players' Championship where, five months ahead of the Ryder Cup, the leading forces from Europe and America will be truly joined.

The winner It might be worth a punt on the fourth Golf Boy, Ben Crane, who must be fed up doing his impression of the fifth Beatle.

Quote of the Week

'I'm not telling the group at Augusta what to do, but if I were running the club I'd have plenty of women members.'

Augusta National member Warren Buffet. Isn't he breaking the golden green jacket rule never to comment on membership matters Either that or he's just so fed up being asked the dreaded women members question he wanted to give Masters chairman Billy Payne a much-needed hint to get on with it.

Booth and Parker looking good for big future

It is never easy growing up burdened with heavy expectation. Scot Carly Booth was given the dreaded title 'Next Big Thing' from the moment she entered her teenage years. How pleasing to see her leave them with a title already under her arm, after claiming the Aberdeen Asset Ladies Scottish Open at the weekend.

Right behind the 19-year-old in the pecking order was 22-year-old English lass Florentyna Parker. What wonders this photogenic pair could do for the British women's game.

Winning smile: Carly Booth celebrates at the Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open at Archerfield

Winning smile: Carly Booth celebrates at the Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open at Archerfield

Open season

More from Derek Lawrenson…

World of Golf: Americans in form, so it won't be an easy Ryder
30/04/12

Derek Lawrenson: Former Open champion Curtis finds his salvation with a victory to savour
23/04/12

Derek Lawrenson: Euro stars strike it rich as 130m Tour goes global
16/04/12

Derek Lawrenson: The pride and passion of 'Blubber' Watson
09/04/12

Derek Lawrenson's Masters countdown: Jack's doing his bit for Luke and Rory
02/04/12

Derek Lawrenson: Woods is back, but the UK's finest can defy his bid to be Master
26/03/12

World of Golf: Donald is back on top and enjoying the view
19/03/12

Derek Lawrenson: Rose can bloom into a Major winner like Nick
12/03/12

VIEW FULL ARCHIVE

How do you fancy all four majors crammed between the second week in April and the third week in July, with The Open and the US PGA Championship taking place almost back to back

That could be the unsatisfactory price to be paid for golf's return to the Olympics in 2016.

The PGA of America's own website lists their major, the US PGA, as taking place in August that year. But there is no chance given their present insistence it must take place before the Olympics, which begins on August 5.

With The Open moving forward a week to finish on July 10, it looks as if the major season will be done and dusted by July 24.

'Sorting this out is a 24-carat headache,' was the vivid description given to me by one of those involved, while even Royal and Ancient chief executive Peter Dawson, one of the principal advocates for golf in the Olympics, conceded the spread of majors as currently proposed is 'not ideal'.

The reason why the PGA of America do not want their event after the Olympics is they have also got a home Ryder Cup to organise before the end of September.

And the top players think they have got problems trying to sort out their schedules…

Wells Fargo Championship: Webb Simpson shares lead

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Local boy Simpson shares lead with Cink and Moore after first round in Charlotte

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UPDATED:

05:51 GMT, 4 May 2012

North Carolina's Webb Simpson led a group of three players on seven under par at the end of the first round of the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte.

Simpson, who lives within spitting distance of the Quail Hollow venue, shot a 65 to sit alongside fellow Americans Stewart Cink and Ryan Moore.

Homecoming: Simpson is congratulated by Tiger Woods after his first round

Homecoming: Simpson is congratulated by Tiger Woods after his first round

Simpson's round, played in the company of Tiger Woods, was highlighted by an eagle at the par-four eighth and also contained six birdies as well as a single bogey.

'I was nervous playing with Tiger. I prayed a lot out there,' Simpson said on www.pgatour.com. 'Once I made a couple birdies, I kind of enjoyed it.'

With four bogeys and three birdies, Woods could manage only a one-under 71.

Cink was flawless with seven birdies in his round of 65, while Moore managed nine birdies against two bogeys.

In contention: Veteran Stewart Cink also shot seven-under

In contention: Veteran Stewart Cink also shot seven-under

A shot behind in a group of five players on six under were Rickie Fowler and England's Brian Davis

Rory McIlroy, a winner at Quail Hollow two years ago, was two under, while Lee Westwood's round was spoiled by a double bogey at the 16th and a single at 18 which left him one under alongside Woods.

Defending champion Lucas Glover was level par, as was Scotland's Martin Laird.

Wells Fargo Championship: Live leaderboard

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Wells Fargo Championship leaderboard: Keep up with the latest scores

The PGA Tour is at the Quail Hollow Country Club in Charlotte this week for the Wells Fargo Championship.

Lucas Glover took the title last year and you can keep track of all the latest scores right here.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LIVE LEADERBOARD

Mummy's boy: Lucas Glover celebrates his win at Quail Hollow last year

Mummy's boy: Lucas Glover celebrates his win at Quail Hollow last year

Lee Westwood caddie Billy Foster injured

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Westwood tees off with new caddie as Foster is sidelined with knee injury

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UPDATED:

14:37 GMT, 2 May 2012

Lee Westwood has a new caddie in Charlotte this week – and may not have Billy Foster back until after The Open in July.

Yorkshireman Foster injured his right knee just before a charity football match on Monday and, according to the world No 3, could be out of action for more than two months.

Westwood will have American Casey Kerr alongside him in the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow, where both he and Rory McIlroy have the chance to dethrone the resting Luke Donald as world No 1, and Tiger Woods, like McIlroy, plays his first event since The Masters.

Injured: Billy Foster (right) is a doubt for The Open

Injured: Billy Foster (right) is a doubt for The Open

'Billy could not only miss this event, next week's Players Championship and the PGA at Wentworth, but also the US Open and The Open,' said Westwood on his website.

'I told him it's a good job there's no big tournaments coming up!

'Billy's an integral part of the team and is very important. I'm not sure how it will affect me.'

Kerr usually works for Fred Couples, but the former Masters champion is currently suffering from 'flu.

Westwood made a successful defence of the Indonesian Masters a fortnight ago and before that came joint third at Augusta.

The 39-year-old will be back at the top of the rankings for the first time in almost a year if he wins on Sunday and McIlroy is outside the first six.

But if Westwood does not lift the title the Northern Irishman – 23 this Friday – needs a top-seven finish to go to No 1 for the third time in just over two months.

Knocking on the door: Rory McIlroy has the chance to become world No 1

Knocking on the door: Rory McIlroy has the chance to become world No 1

McIlroy and Woods have both had three weeks to digest what went wrong in The Masters, where so much was expected of them and they finished joint 40th.

Woods said: 'I was struggling with my ball-striking – it had to do with my posture. My set-up wasn't quite right, as well as my takeaway.'

After a week off he and coach Sean Foley got back to work and Woods reckons that after 'hundreds of reps it's dialed in.'

McIlroy will hope to be inspired by his return to the scene of his first victory in America two years ago – achieved with a magical course record of 62 in the final round after he had almost missed the halfway cut.

'I think that by going into majors as a major champion it's definitely heightened your expectation levels a little bit – maybe that was something that I maybe didn't control quite so well at The Masters,' he said.

He was only one shot off the lead after two rounds, but closed 77-76.

Eye of the Tiger: Woods had a nightmare at the Masters

Eye of the Tiger: Woods had a nightmare at the Masters

There is obviously no need for him to panic about that, though. Last year, of course, he finished with an 80 when four clear and then two months later won the US Open by eight with a record score.

McIlroy plays the opening two rounds with two other former winners at Quail Hollow, Jim Furyk and David Toms, with Woods in the group immediately ahead of them.

Westwood partners Kyle Stanley and defending champion Lucas Glover, while Phil Mickelson tees off alongside Bill Haas and Keegan Bradley.

They were the three players who fought out a play-off won by Haas at Riviera in Los Angeles in February.

Graeme McDowell was in the original field, but withdrew in order to rest and recharge his batteries before next week's Players Championship – the event he led by three at one point last year, but then fell away to a closing 79.