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By: Richard Smith Stonehenge Golf & Country Club
What an exciting 2011 golf season! Rising stars
like Rory McILroy, Webb Simpson, Keegan Bradley, and Rickie Fowler showed us
there's plenty of dynamic players to fill the Tiger void. Dustin Johnson continued his climb to
join golf's elite, and several old stalwarts continued to show that they still
have the game to stand atop the world known as the PGA Tour.
One player, only 5’9” in stature, rose to a
pinnacle never before achieved in the golf: that man was Luke Donald. He
finished the season as the only man to win the money title on both the U.S. and
European tour. He dominated the
tour week in and week out. Never won a major? So what, I’m sure that a major championship is within his
reach.
In 2011, Mr. Donald was the PGA leading money
winner, the PGA Player of the Year, the Euro Tour leading money winner, the
Vardon Trophy winner, the winner of the Byron Nelson Award, the Euro Tour Race
to Dubai Winner, and the European Tour Golfer of the Year.
But he should have won another award: for his
sportsmanship on and off of the golf course. Luke Donald is one of the game’s true gentlemen and
respected by his golf peers and those he deals with personally and in business.
He exemplifies what is cherished and inherently good about the game…nearly $7
million in winnings this year hasn’t seemed to taint Mr. Donald head game or
attitude.
It’s a shame that our media spends so much time
focusing in on incidents or individuals that embarrass the teams or the schools
they represent. Maybe, just maybe,
we should focus on the guys like Luke Donald…there are plenty of them
throughout the world of sports to hold up as shining examples of sportsmanship,
fair play and athletic excellence.
Hats off to you, Luke Donald…keep it going in 2012!
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