Article: Former No. 1 Luke Donald says he nearly quit professional golf

[boogielicious]

From: http://golfweek.com/news/2016/jan/10/pga-tour-golf-luke-donald-world-no-1-quit/

Golf is hard even for these guys.

Quote

By Kevin Casey  
Sunday, January 10, 2016

His game has seen more of a steady decline than a freefall, but Luke Donald and his drop from World No. 1 to outside the top 50 in recent years has been notable.

But few knew the true depths of the Englishman's frustration.

In an interview with the Telegraph that published Sunday, Donald admitted that last May he harbored serious thoughts about quitting professional golf.

This came at one of the lowest points in Donald's professional career. The 38-year-old, who had grown accustomed to automatic spots in major championships, had fallen outside the World Top 50 for the first time in a decade the previous month. He had gone from the No. 1 post in 2011 and 2012 to having to qualify for major championships three years later.

Donald would indeed qualify for the U.S. and British opens, but prior to that, the years of declining play – and no wins on any major golf tour in three seasons – had taken their toll.

“My confidence had taken a big knock and I asked myself if I wanted to continue doing this,” Donald told the Telegraph. “I wasn’t enjoying it, finding it so very hard and could not see much light at the end of the tunnel. But then I told myself not to be a baby, to grow up and realize how lucky I was. I was still playing golf for a living.”

 

[iacas]

2 hours ago, boogielicious said:

But then I told myself not to be a baby, to grow up and realize how lucky I was. I was still playing golf for a living.

I like the sentiment, but at the same time, you've gotta just do what makes you happy. If he's still miserable, he could probably just retire and still be just fine.

[rehmwa]

Hope he doesn't retire.