I certainly wanted to be there. by Luke Donald

I certainly wanted to be there.

Luke Donald

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My objective has always been to get better, no matter where my ra... by Luke Donald

My objective has always been to get better, no matter where my ranking is.

ranking get-better matter

The qualifying system helps the top guys like Sergio Garcia, who play most of their golf in the U.S. They can rely on the world rankings and just play their four extra events [with the four majors and three World Golf Championship events counting as seven European events]. But for the other guys it's tough, and I don't know if that can be changed. It is a tricky situation.

The last few years I've been doing the Middle East thing, and it's a tough decision whether to go there and try and knock off some events as a European Tour member, this year I think overall looking at my results, I played a little bit better on the West Coast than I have in the Middle East, so that was another determining factor for coming back here to an event that I have had some success in the past.

success past thinking

I think the way the greens are, you need to be very accurate with your irons. Whether there's wind or not, the most important thing out here is being able to control the distance of your irons and the direction. I've done that pretty well the last couple of days.

distance couple thinking

I've been at the front a couple of times and won back in 2002, but I haven't been in that position too many times over here in the United States, so we'll see how it goes.

position united-states couple

I watched the Olympics as a kid. It would be fun to try to win a medal. If I could swap Olympic gold for a US PGA Championship? I'd take the Major every time.

winning fun kids

I felt like I didn't quite have it today, especially on the front nine, i was searching a little bit in my swing.

I wouldn't worry and read too much into it, rory has been by far the best players in the world for the last year or so.

The last few years I played a lot in the Middle East, i think with the new wraparound schedule, I feel like in previous years (Riviera) has been kind of my first event of the year and I feel like I'm getting left behind a little bit. Some guys have played eight and nine events and I'm playing my first or second.

He set his wedding date before the tournament decided to change the date, he thought that it was a free week that I don't usually play. ... I told him I would definitely be at his second wedding, but he didn't find that too funny.

It's certainly easier to have one coach rather than split short game and full swing, and certainly it's been fun being back with Pat.

Actually had dinner with Justin Rose the night before Justin Rose left for the Ryder Cup, which was fine. It wasn't awkward, you don't play well enough and you can't expect to get picked. I wasn't playing very well.

I think I spent so much time and effort trying to implement what Chuck Cook wanted me to do that I got a little bit away from some of my strengths, i was concentrating on improving my weaknesses and forgetting a little bit about my strengths. For me, consistency is being able to scramble for par when I need to and grind out a round when I'm not at my best.

He’s always been a mentor to me, I was still with him last season, it wasn’t a complete breakaway. It was more difficult having two coaches, but Goss has always been really good at understanding how to get the most out of me physically and mentally.

I felt a lot better today, Yesterday, I made a couple early bogeys and had that kind of 'here we go again' attitude. Today, I was determined to let every shot be what it was and try my best on the next one. I was a bit better mentally. That related into my physical game and I was able to hole a few more putts.

My game can’t be too far away. It’s nice to see some numbers in the 60s, it’s been a bit of a run for me shooting loads of 70s.

I'm sure people see me as quiet and someone who keeps things to himself a little bit. I might be quiet, but there's a lot of fire inside me, and hopefully people see that sometimes.

me fire sometimes people

It will be a great story when I'm an old man telling my grandkids that I was once the best player in the world.

best great man world

I am not a bomber. I'm more about precision and being target-oriented. I have to rely on all parts of my game firing if I'm going to win.

i-am game being win

There is more to the game than hitting it far. There are ways to make birdies other than hitting 350-yard drives. I pride myself on a good short game; I work very hard at it.

game good myself work