donald's ready for 'home' major

By Mark Garrod, PA Sport Golf Correspondent, Chicago

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Not many Europeans get to play a United States PGA championship while staying at home. But that's how it is for Luke Donald this week.

The 28-year-old Englishman has had a base in Chicago ever since he went to Northwestern University, where his degree was not in golf but in art theory and practice.

Donald was still an amateur when the PGA was last at Medinah Country Club in 1999 - the one where Tiger Woods denied Sergio Garcia the win that his shot from a base of a tree possibly deserved.

He then failed to qualify for the 2003 US Open at nearby Olympia Fields - the one where Jim Furyk achieved his first and so far only major title.

But he is playing now and is excited about the prospect.

"It feels a little bit more relaxing because I don't have to travel to get here. It's about a 40-minute drive.

"I've played Medinah a number of times, including a couple last week to really get familiar with how it's going to play.

"My game feels great and hopefully when you step up Thursday everything kicks into place.

"You can't really control that, but you can do everything as much as possible in the way of practising and preparing."

Donald had high hopes for this season's four majors, but in the first three he has managed only 42nd, 12th and 35th.

In all three the first round has left him with a lot of catching up to do - a 74 at Augusta, 78 at Winged Foot and then 74 again at Hoylake last month.

"I think it was more mental than anything. I feel like I've got to a stage in my game where I'm good enough to compete and win at any given tournament and right now I've been getting in my own way a little bit.

"I feel like I've put a little bit too much expectation early on in the round when really Thursday shouldn't be any different to any other round.

"It's about not pressing too hard, not getting too upset at myself and whenever I hit a bad shot just keep playing one shot at a time.

"It's the same things you hear over and over again, but it's a matter of doing it rather than saying it.

"I've had the guy I work with on the mental side, Jim Fanning, with me and we've talked about not letting one bad shot affect the next couple of holes. That's kind of what has happened the last few majors."

It is an important week in Ryder Cup terms as well for Donald. He is fifth in the standings, but if sixth-placed Sergio Garcia goes past him Donald's European tour earnings are such that he won't be in the top 10 and could then need a wild card.

"Hopefully with a good solid three weeks (all that's left before the side is finalised) then I will secure my place. I'm looking forward to making that team automatically."

He had to be picked by Bernhard Langer for his debut two years ago.