Donaldson exorcises painful memories
Welshman Jamie Donaldson burst into contention for his first European tour title today at the event which put him out of golf for six months last year.
The 28-year-old, a team-mate of Luke Donald and Paul Casey when Great Britain finished second in the world amateur team championship in 2000, defied more strong winds to shoot a superb 68 in the second round of the Jazztel Spanish Open at San Roque.
On two under par at halfway Donaldson is three behind early clubhouse leader Peter Gustafsson – and ready to pick up where he left off in agony 12 months ago.
After an opening 65 on the Canary Island of Fuerteventura, the Macclesfield-based player was lying second behind compatriot David Park. But he was unable to complete his second round because of a recurrence of terrible back pains.
“It was a struggle to walk, let alone play,” Donaldson remembered today. “I’d had problems on and off since I was about 18, but the situation was getting worse and worse.
“If I hadn’t stopped then I don’t think I’d be playing now.
“I went to see an osteopath at first and was told I had two or three different things wrong. Then I was referred to the London spine clinic and their rehabilitation expert John Bowskill.
“I couldn’t practise and if you can’t practise you can’t compete, so the only solution was to take a complete break and get myself stronger.
“Being in the gym five days a week was boring at first, but then it started getting exciting because I could start seeing the improvement.”
Donaldson returned at the dunhill links championship in October, made the cut and then finished 14th in his only other start of the year at the Madrid Open.
A lowly 179th on the Order of Merit the former Welsh amateur champion was granted a medical extension to his tour membership and already this season has finished eighth in Portugal and 11th in the star-studded Dubai Desert Classic.
His 68 at San Roque included a four on the 568-yard 17th which into the wind required a drive, four-iron and three-iron. “In practice I was on the green with a drive and three-iron,” he commented.
While the course is staging the tournament for the first time Gustafsson already has happy memories – last November he won the tour’s qualifying school at the venue.
The 28-year-old, known for his colourful floppy sun hats, lives along the Costa del Sol and has been eating every night in the same Swedish-owned restaurant he used during the six-round school marathon.
“I feel a bit like a defending champion here and you don’t want to make a fool of yourself,” said Gustafsson, who estimates he has played San Roque “70 to 80 times”.
He added a 69 to his opening 70 to set the target and waited to see if any of the other six first-round leaders – or anybody else – could catch him.
The one making the best stab at it was his compatriot Peter Hanson, who with four to play had moved alongside him on five under par.
Two behind were Ireland’s Peter Lawrie, the tour’s Rookie of the Year in 2003, and Frenchman Gregory Bourdy.
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