Donald charges back into contention
Luke Donald came up with a scintillating finish today to re-ignite the defence of his Omega European Masters title in Switzerland.
Seven strokes adrift of Ryder Cup partner Sergio Garcia with just four holes of his third round remaining, Donald played them in a remarkable five under par - and when Garcia bogeyed the long 14th he was only one behind.
The England World Cup winner, who has not tasted solo success since his five-shot victory on the same Crans-sur-Sierre course 12 months ago, birdied the 15th and 16th, holed his pitch to the 388-yard next for an eagle two and then made a curling 12-foot putt at the last.
It brought back memories of the finish he produced to the Masters in April. Donald covered the last eight holes in six under there with two eagles and two birdies to finish joint third on his debut.
As he signed for a 66 and nine under total Garcia birdied the 519-yard 15th to get back to 11 under, but the title race in the first qualifying event for next year’s Ryder Cup was well and truly alive again.
Garcia, favourite for the first prize of nearly £200,000 (€293,365) before the start and even more so once he built a three-stroke halfway lead, was having a real rollercoaster ride.
He birdied the par five first, then double-bogeyed the fourth after chipping into a bunker.
The Spaniard pitched to two feet at the sixth, but got in trouble again at the driveable 330-yard drive, finishing down a bank on a path by a fence.
He asked for a referee, but the European tour’s top rules official John Paramor – the man Garcia criticised over a decision in Australia four years ago and was fined £5,000 (€7,340) – told him there was no relief.
After playing off the path Garcia examined his club to see if it had been damaged, while the ball was still not on the green and he bogeyed.
Despite Donald’s charge Welshman Garry Houston remained the closest challenger and with three to play was only one behind.
Ranked only 433rd in the world compared to Garcia’s sixth, Houston has never finished higher than fourth in any tournament and he lies 126th on the Order of Merit with only a handful more events to climb into the top 115 and avoid an 11th trip to the qualifying school.
Donald had moved into a share of third place with Dane Anders Hansen, while Paul Casey’s recovery from the worst slump of his career continued with a 67 to be seven under.
But Jean Van de Velde, third overnight, had fallen away to five under as weather warning signs were posted around the course as rainclouds moved closer.
Garcia's putting problems reared up to bite him badly at the 17th. Donald had taken two, but Garcia ran up a six, three-putting from barely 10 feet.
The two were level with Dane Anders Hansen, but now Houston led at 10 under.
