Donald one to watch for 2011

Donald has one of the best swings in the game and is a perfect example to any aspiring golfer.

A year ago, it would have been absurd to think that Luke Donald would be ranked higher than Tiger Woods and Phil Mickleson.

But a win in the Accenture World Matchplay and he would take a huge leap up the rankings, right up to third, ahead of both Americans.

The Englishmen's game has improved drastically over the past 12 months and is certainly one to look out for in 2011. Donald has always had a silky smooth swing and that combined with a tremendous short game has had many questioning why he hasn't won more but it may only be a matter of time until we see him lifting more trophies.

It's his mentality which is the main reason behind Donald's drastic turn in fortunes. Having turned professional in 2001, the father-of-one has won well over £15million with five victories on the PGA and European tours.

Luke Donald winning the 2010 Madrid Masters, ending a four year winning drought.

He's always been described as a 'choker' when it comes to the major tournaments, someone who is happy just to turn up at an event, play a round of golf, pick up his pay cheque and go home.

You can argue that someone with Donald's ability should have won more titles but in this modern age of big-hitters and improving technology, he struggled to compete with the likes of Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer.

It's almost certain that Donald would have won more had he been playing a few decades ago, when the game was more about accuracy, temperament and being consistent. All qualities which Donald posses in abundance.

The 33-year-old is misunderstood by many. He wants to win and succeed at the game he loves. His record in the Ryder Cup is mightily impressive having never lost a foursomes match in seven attempts.

Halfway through 2010, he was having another average season, just easing through each event, going largely unnoticed before something clicked and the real Luke Donald stood up.

He finished the year on fire in the Fedex Cup play-offs, coming so close to winning the $10million prize but was pipped by a single stroke by Jim Furyk, before producing arguably the best golf in one of the greatest ever Ryder Cups.

And he's continued that form at the start of 2011. He's played three matches at the Accenture World Matchplay and is yet to be behind at any stage. His swing is a please to watch, you could watch a DVD of it all day and never get bored. It has such a beautiful tempo, never losing control or getting frustrated even when things aren't going his way.

Putting is another strong point of his game, there's not many better from within six feet.

Donald is really starting to show what he is capable of and this could be the year where he finally proves it in the shape of trophies.

Consistency has never been a problem for Donald but now it's time to start proving it in the major events and there's no better place to start then the Masters in just a couple of months time.