Donald to miss final major

Hertfordshire golfer unlikely to make Ryder Cup

Last updated: 1st August 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Donald to miss final major

Donald: extended lay-off

To pick a man who is injured would be a major story.

Nick Faldo
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Luke Donald will definitely miss the US PGA Championship due to injury and remains a huge doubt for the Ryder Cup.

Donald has not played since hurting his wrist during the final round of the US Open on June 15.

A statement on July 11 talked of him having "at least the next three to four weeks" off and it has now been confirmed that the 30-year-old is not ready for the final major of the year at Oakland Hills from August 7-10.

With Donald outside the automatic qualifying spots for the European Ryder Cup team it appears almost certain he will also sit out the biennial event, which takes place at Valhalla, Kentucky from September 19-21.

Qualifying ends on August 31 and, therefore, to make the team he would require one of captain Nick Faldo's two wild-cards.

That seems unlikely as Faldo said last week: "He would need a very quick recovery to get to the US PGA, but you can't come back from a wrist injury too early because it will flare up again."

"To pick a man who is injured would be a major story."

In Donald's favour is a superb Ryder Cup record - he has been a member of Europe's last two victorious sides, losing only once in seven matches and winning all his four games in partnership with Sergio Garcia.