Luke Donald, James Driscoll among leaders
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Although all the talk leading into the start of the season’s final official event was about the top spot on the money list being up for grabs in a battle between World No.1 Luke Donald and Webb Simpson, James Driscoll brought his number – 125 – to the forefront as well.Driscoll was among six players completing their rounds in the morning at 6 under par 66 to share the first-round lead. While Donald and Simpson decide who will walk away from the week with the greatest haul for the year, Driscoll and Australia’s Nathan Green are looking to keep their jobs.
Driscoll started the week at No. 125, the last place on the money list for fully exempt status on the 2012 tour. Green was in much worse shape, coming in at 175.
“I don't look at 125 as that special of a number,” Driscoll said after signing a card that had eight birdies, two bogeys, a double-bogey, an eagle and six pars. “The guys at 120 through 190 are kind of all in the same position. Everyone needs a good week this week. Every one of those guys needs a good week this week to avoid Q-School.
“So I don't think the position I'm in is any different than about 40 other guys here,” he added. “Plus, I've known all along that the money that I have up to this point isn't going to be enough. I've known that for the last couple months. I've kind of been under the same pressure for the last month from Vegas up until now trying to make a few dollars and get out of this position. I obviously haven't done it, but hopefully things will start coming together.”
On the other side of the spectrum, Donald finds himself in a very similar position to many of those players Driscoll mentions, in that, for it to be a successful week, he has to win.
After Simpson lost in a two-hole playoff last Sunday to Ben Crane, Donald fell to second-place on the season’s money total. He has a real chance to become the first player to ever win money titles on both the U.S. PGA Tour and the European Tour. But, he needs a lofty finish, probably no worse than a runner-up, as long as it is not Simpson who finishes ahead of him.
“Very solid start,” Donald said of his round at the Palm course. “Would have loved to have made a couple more at the end. I didn't hit the ball great the last few holes. Up and through 13 or 14 holes it was very solid indeed.
“You know, I think you want to capitalize on the slightly easier course, and six birdies and no bogeys was a great start,” he continued. “It wasn't that easy out there. The wind was strong enough to make club selection a little tricky, but very satisfied with the start.”
Donald was paired with Simpson and he said there was a bit of friendly banter between the only two players whom can capture the money title.
“He asked when I was having my off-season. I said, ‘Well, it was going to be this week. Thanks for playing the last two weeks.’ But, yeah, just some lighthearted banter out there.
“That's fine,” Donald added. “Not only do I have to beat Webb, I have to beat the rest of the field. I have to keep my eye on everyone.”
Donald is skipping his 10-year class reunion at Northwestern this weekend. He was meant to be at their homecoming game against Penn State on Saturday.
Simpson is among a group just two shots off the pace. One thing he was not going to do following his opening round was worry about what a final result may be.
“No. I mean, there is so much that can happen at a golf tournament, especially in four days,” said Simpson. “So much can change.
“So we're both, I'm sure, just focused on what we're doing and trying to play as good as we can play and have a chance to win on Sunday.”
Simpson had mentioned earlier in the week that he would not be watching what Donald was doing as they played together, but after the first round he was asked if that was difficult, particularly considering how well Donald was playing.
“Not really,” he said. “I mean, I think when a guy is No. 1 in the world you expect him to play well. It almost makes it easier not to get caught up in what he's doing, because you expect him to go out and make a lot of birdies and be right there Sunday.”
While he will retain his No. 1 standing in the world rankings regardless of the outcome this week, Donald didn’t get there playing for second-place at tournaments.
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