by Jeff Skinner
The PGA Tour’s much hyped FedEx Cup Playoffs finished with a bang, much to the delight of Commissioner Finchem and The Fall Series, the Tour’s equivalent to Triple A Ball begins today with the Justin Timberlake Shiners. This is the time of year when players the casual golf fan wouldn’t recognize do their best to pad their earnings so they stay on the tour next season.
But The Fall Series, The Presidents Cup and Tiger Gossip aren’t the only things happening in golf right now. Across the pond Luke Donald is trying to do something no one else has ever accomplished. The world number one is ardently trying to become the first golfer ever to lead both of the major golf tours in money winnings. Donald is a member of both the PGA and European Tours and has stated he wants to be the first to lead both tours. “It would mean a lot to lead both money lists,” Donald said. “I think more the fact that no one has ever done it, being a member of both tours. You always try to accomplish things that nobody has ever done. I think it will be pretty special.”
Currently he leads both tours and this isn’t something that will just be a byproduct of his good play on both tours. He is making a concerted effort to win both titles and said he may even add another tournament in the United States if circumstances allow.
There are thirteen tournaments left on The Euro Tour but only four on The PGA Tour. His situation is a bit complicated as his wife is due to give birth to their second child in early October.
Donald leads Webb Simpson by $68,971 on the PGA Tour’s Money List and leads Rory McIlroy by a little more than 1.6 million Euros on The European Tour’s Race to Dubai money list. He may need to play more than he originally planned to keep his lead,”I will keep an eye on what everyone is doing but rest is important as well. It’s hard to chase everything.”
Gary Player earned a reputation as a “World Golfer” years ago when he would travel anywhere to ply his trade. Ernie Els did the same as he his considered this generation’s World Traveler and now Donald has to be considered in their class of World Golfer.
If Donald pulls it off he’ll go down in history with an amazing triple, not just a double: He’ll finish as the money leader on the PGA Tour, The European Tour and still be the top golfer in The Official World Golf Rankings. There isn’t a more definitive way to make the Official Rankings more official then winning both titles. Good luck to Donald; this would be something really special and an amazing finish to an historic season.
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