• Malaysian Open, Round Three

Donald unfazed by missed cut in Malaysia

ESPN staff
March 23, 2013
Luke Donald had a tough time in Malaysia © Getty Images
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Malaysian Open leaderboard

Luke Donald has shrugged off the first missed cut of his European Tour career, claiming he will now work hard on his preparation for The Masters, as the Malaysian Open was cut to 54 holes on account of bad weather.

The former world No. 1 never recovered from an opening round of 74 and when he added a 73 to that when returning to the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club on Saturday to complete his round, his fate was sealed.

Donald was solid from the tee, but his usually brilliant wedge play was off key and his putter went cold - which contributed to a missed cut at a regular European Tour event for the first time.

With The Masters just under three weeks away, though, Donald feels he can get his game in shape for Augusta.

"I've got a couple of weeks off to get ready for Augusta and I'll obviously be very diligent in my preparation," said the 35 year old. "I would have loved to go back home in form, but in golf you just never know.

"We've seen it many times before when people go into tournaments with very little form and win - including majors. So you just have to keep plugging and hope it's your turn.

"The greens here are very different from what I play on. They are a little slower than what I'm used to and I just didn't adjust or adapt to them.

"I just couldn't read them for the life of me. I'd think it was right to left and it went the other way. I got John (his caddie) to read a few too and we were seeing the same things.

"The usual scoring clubs for me - from 100 yards and in - weren't good enough. It's been a little bit that way the last few tournaments, but it's something that never really worries me because I know they are my strengths.

"Tee to green I wasn't that far off."

Weather once again intervened and the leaders were only able to get into the early holes of their third rounds when play was halted for the day - prompting officials to cut the tournament to 54 holes.

When play resumes on Sunday, Kiradech Aphibarnrat will have a one-shot lead over Charl Schwartzel. The pair are through two holes and Aphibarnrat is sat at 11-under, one clear of the former Masters champion.

A host of players are lurking at nine-under, Padraig Harrington, Peter Lawrie and Edoardo Molinari amongst them.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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