Luke Donald spent the first 10 years of his professional golf life looking for a career-defining win.
When it finally happened, Donald had no idea that it would mark the start of the busiest, best and most emotional year of his life.
Donald won the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in dominant fashion last February, trouncing his six opponents on the way to a windy victory at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain.
In May, Donald - a smooth-swinging, Northwestern University-educated Brit - ascended to No. 1 in the World Golf Ranking, a spot he still holds. Then he became the first golfer in history to win the PGA Tour and European PGA Tour money titles.
It wasn't until the fall, though, that life - with all its power to surprise and humble, thrill and devastate - really hit him. Donald's father, Colin, died Nov. 8, three days before Donald's wife gave birth to their second child, Sophia Ann.
People are also reading…
The Star sat down with Donald, 34 and Match Play's No. 1 overall seed, last week for a wide-ranging interview about last year's victory, his expectations for this season and the perks that come with being the world's top-ranked player (hint: He has a wine label).
Here's what Donald said:
Last year's Match Play win was easily the biggest of your career. Looking back, what were the lasting images of your week in Southern Arizona?
"Well, the fact that it snowed here in Tucson. We had hail. And there was a little bit of relief - it had been five years since I'd won on the PGA Tour. To win here in such a big way against arguably the strongest players we play - it's the top 64 guys. … Certainly, it gave me a huge boost in confidence and set up what was my best year by far."
What did that do for your confidence?
"Huge confidence. Anytime you win, it gives you confidence. I think the way that I won almost gave me any more confidence - I never went to (hole No.) 18, I never got down in a match. … I seemed to dominate my way through an event. When you get into a week like that when you're playing great golf, and do it continually for six matches in a row, the confidence is sky-high."
The format of Match Play is different from other tournaments, but you seem to thrive. What gives you an edge?
"I don't make a lot of mistakes, and that's probably the biggest key in Match Play: not giving holes away. I played it a little bit growing up, sure, but it's more about not making mistakes, not putting holes away and continually putting pressure on your opponent."
The intensity has to be higher than during a stroke play tournament, too …
"Every match is like you're playing Sunday in the final group: It's do or die. You have to go out there and perform and if you play badly, you're going home. That's the nature of it: You have to hope you can keep putting pressure on your opponent, and win that way."
Do you look at the brackets heading into a tournament like this, or do you prefer not to know?
"I'll probably have a little look, but we're playing top 64 guys in the world and no match is easy. Everyone's going to put up a fight. The draw is a little bit irrelevant; I look at it just for fun."
This tournament's also different because it's at elevation. How does that affect your preparations?
"Certainly, a lot of calculations going into the yardage and with the wind … you try to figure it out. You say, 'Well, this bunker is 340 yards off the tee but it's reachable with the elevation. … Most of the time, driver is too much getting there.' It becomes tricky. You have to kind of be on the ball, but John (McLaren), my caddie, does a good job of sorting out the numbers and letting me know what I need to do."
You buried your father and became a father for the second time in a span of days. What was last November like for you?
"It was a huge range of emotions, obviously - from a lot of sadness from losing my dad a little bit unexpectedly to emotions of joy from having the birth of a daughter. I think having my daughter shed a little grace on the whole situation. I came out of it more responsible, and with somewhat more perspective in life. Having a family has really helped my golf. I go out there and I work hard and I practice hard and golf means a lot to me, but if it doesn't work out, coming home to a healthy family is what's most important."
You're a star golfer; does a wine label come with the territory?
"It's more of a hobby for me, but it's fun to have your name on a bottle of wine. It's top-quality wine. It's got some good ratings, and it's a wine you can store for 10, 15 years and it'll be great, but it's also a wine that's ready to drink, too."
What does a No. 1 ranking do for wine sales?
"It elevates them, hopefully."
Luke in the lead
Luke Donald cruised in the 2011 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, playing just 89 of 108 possible holes and dispatching his six opponents without ever reaching the 18th tee.
"Usually in Match Play, you have to dig out a few matches," he said. "It just seemed that in that year, and in that week, everything went smoothly. I was able to control every match, never get behind."
Here's a look back at Donald's run:
• First round: Defeated Charley Hoffman 6 and 5
• Second round: Defeated Edoardo Molinari 2 and 1
• Third round: Defeated Matteo Manassero 3 and 2
• Quarterfinals: Defeated Ryan Moore 5 and 4
• Semifinals: Defeated Matt Kuchar 6 and 5
• Final: Defeated Martin Kaymer 3 and 2
Up next
• What: WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship
• Where: The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain
• When: Monday-Feb. 26
• Ticket info: Call 1-800-918-4653 or visit worldgolfchampionships.com
24 pages of Match Play
Player capsules, a course primer, Greg Hansen's Sweet 16 of Southern Arizona golf and more.
Inside today's Star
