Britain's Luke Donald, who defends his title at last week's
Target World Challenge, has set his sights well above top-10
finishes.
Although top-10 places on the PGA Tour are lucrative and coveted
by most of the world's leading players, Donald believes he needs to
break free of that comfort zone in his bid to reach the pinnacle of
the game.
"I'd rather be a little disappointed than being satisfied with
something like finishing top 10 every week," the 29-year-old
Englishman told reporters at Sherwood Country Club on
Wednesday.
"There was a period last year or at the beginning of this year
when I was racking up top 10s and I felt good about my game.
"But when I sat down and thought about it, it wasn't really that
satisfying to be top 10.
"When you get the taste for winning, that's what you really want
to do. Ultimately, I'm playing out here to win."
Donald, who won last year's Target World Challenge after closing
with an eight-under-par 64, has long cherished eclipsing Tiger
Woods as the number one player in the game.
"I expect a lot out of myself," he said. "Obviously Tiger raises
the bar. He's set it very high and it's going to take a lot of
great play and a lot of hard work to get where he is right now.
"But I've got to a point in my career where I really feel I
should be competing and winning tournaments regularly and having
chances to win, competing in majors and having chances to win."
Served notice
Tipped by fellow Englishman Nick Faldo as the most likely Briton
to make a major breakthrough, Donald served notice he is close to
delivering by tying for third on his debut at last year's
Masters.
He climbed into the world's top 10 for the first time with a
two-shot victory at the Honda Classic in March and claimed his
second top-three finish in the majors at the PGA Championship at
Medinah in August.
"Any time you win, it's always a good feeling and gives you even
more confidence," the world number nine said.
"But there's still room for improvement and I'm looking forward
to 2007, trying to win more events and compete in majors."
Donald has not brought his best form to California for his title
defence in the 16-man tournament hosted by world number one
Woods.
In partnership with fellow Englishman David Howell, Donald tied
for 15th at last week's WGC-World Cup in Barbados where the duo had
been the pre-tournament favourites.
"My form hasn't been as good as I would have liked it to be and
I've been struggling a little bit with my ball-striking from tee to
green, which is usually a strong aspect," Donald said.
"But I've been working with my coach and I feel like it's
getting back to where it should be. Hopefully it's only a matter of
hitting a few good shots to really get my confidence going."
Donald is scheduled to launch his title defence in the company
of compatriot Paul Casey at 1800 GMT in Thursday's opening
round.
Thirteen of the world's top 20 players are in this week's field,
among them US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy, fourth-ranked Adam Scott,
European number one Padraig Harrington, Michael Campbell, Colin
Montgomerie, Jose Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson and twice winner
Davis Love III.
(China Daily December 20, 2006)