“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them” – Walt Disney.
Disneyland is a place where magic happens, and that it did last week in the form of a superb final round of 8 under par by world number one Luke Donald to win the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic. Donald completed the tournament at -17, two strokes ahead of Justin Leonard at 15-under.
“Everything was on the line, I’m trilled and over the moon” said Donald.
The 33-year-old Brit put on a brilliant putting display, holing four straight birdie putts inside 8 feet, then tuned the radar in further to sink a 18-footer on the 14th and a sensational 45-footer on the 15th to give him his sixth straight birdie.
The victory, his second on the PGA tour this year, boosted Donald’s bank account with winnings over $6.6 million on tour in 2011. He made the decision to play purely to try and seal the money title after Webb Simpson took the lead with his runner-up finish at Sea island last week.
Not only did the win give Donald the money list title but he was also awarded the Vardon Trophy for the lowest adjusted score on the PGA Tour for the year.
Another record beckoning Donald is that fact that it looks highly likely that for the first time ever we will see a player win the money list title on both the PGA Tour and the European Tour in the same year. Donald currently has a $1.8 million lead over Rory McIIroy with 5 tournaments to be played.
Australians will get a chance to see the world number one player first hand in December at the Australian Masters. Donald’s wife Diane is expecting their second child within the next week, however he had committed to travelling down under.
“I have never played in Australia but I have heard so many great things about the sandbelt courses, the people there, and the country’s culture. I am really looking forward to the trip and the experience,” commented Luke.
Six Australians made the cut at Disney’s Magnolia & Palms courses in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Nick O’Hern was the highest placed Aussie, tied for 6th at -13.
“I didn’t really play very well. I hit the ball pretty ordinary, but got a little luck, so I was very happy” said Nick.
Greg Chalmers and Steven Bowditch both tied for 16th at -10 and John Senden and Nathan Green also tied for 28th at -8. Jarrod Lyle finished T46 with a 5 under par.
Unfortunately, Aron Price, Matt Jones, Steve Elkington, Rod Pampling and Michael Sim all got free time at Disney to enjoy the sights by failing to make the cut.
As an Expat Aussie based in Ohio USA, Adam covers USA PGA Tour events for Inside Golf Australia focusing on Australians on the PGA Tour. 
