Luke Donald heads into his seventh Masters campaign firmly of the opinion he now understands what is needed to win.
In-form Englishman feels primed to make Masters challenge
Luke Donald heads into his seventh Masters campaign firmly of the opinion he now understands what is needed to win at the Augusta National.
Donald, the world number four, has made a strong start to the season, highlighted by victory at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in late February.
And the Englishman is looking to carry that good form into the opening major championship of the season.
"I feel like I know what I need to know to be successful - places where I need to be and not to be - and the good feelings I had at the Match Play are still there I think," he said.
"I've been working hard and working on the right stuff - I think I am ready to go."
Preparation
Donald has not played a tournament the last two weeks and admits he took a slight gamble in that, but he made an advance trip to Augusta and did not want to overdo things.
"I was here for two days and it was productive in terms of just getting a feel for the course again," he explained.
"It was playing slower, but you still visualise the shots and just feel you don't have to do as much leading up to the event."
World number one Martin Kaymer makes Donald his favourite for the title on Sunday.
"I saw that," smiled Donald. "Maybe it's because I was the last guy to beat him."
They met in the final of the Match Play and Kaymer could not believe how good his Ryder Cup team-mate's short game was.
"I think I've got a good chance. You always come here trying to win and it's about going out relaxed and letting it happen. Not get in your own way.
"These greens are like nothing we play. A good short game is helpful, but you've still got to make the putts.
"I've been spending a lot of time on getting to grips with them and seeing the lines. They break so much more here."
