Donald wastes solid start with poor finish
World No 1 Luke Donald, seeking his first major title, finished three-over on his final three holes after charging to within a stroke of the lead in Saturday's third round of the PGA Championship.
The 33-year-old Englishman fired a two-under 68 to stand on one-under 209 after 54 holes at Atlanta Athletic Club in the year's final major event, but was shattered over what might have been had he stayed among the top contenders.
"Had something really good going there and kind of threw it away," Donald said. "I'm trying to stay positive. I am angry. I might punish myself in the gym."
Donald was five-under par after 15 holes but took a bogey at 16, cleared the water by inches at 17 to escape with a par 3, then finished with a double bogey that ruined his day.
"Obviously the finish leaves a bitter taste in my mouth," Donald said. "I was in a great position at four-under and thought maybe I could even grab an extra birdie, get to five-under. That could be leading by the end of the day.
"So yeah, very disappointing finish, but there was a lot of great golf out there. I played a lot better. A lot more fairways, gave myself some good opportunities. It's just a shame to waste it like I did at the end."
Donald responded to a bogey at the second hole with three birdies in a row, solving the par-4 third, par-3 fourth and par-5 fifth to crack par overall.
The charge gathered steam when Donald finished the front nine with a birdie and added back-to-back birdies at the 13th and 14th, only to fade on the holes that he sees as the ones that will decide a champion on Sunday.
"It does offer some birdie opportunities and you can get it under par, but there are some tough holes you have got to weather and the champion at the end of the week is probably going to have played those tough ones the best.
"Any time you get holes that are this difficult, it's going to make for an exciting finish, exciting in terms of can you hold on," Donald said.
Donald took over the top raking in late May by winning the BMW European PGA Championship in a playoff over England's Lee Westwood, the prior World No 1.
Donald's other triumphs this year came in the World Golf Championships Match-Play Championship and the Scottish Open.