Golf: Donald left trailing in quest to top money list

LUKE Donald said he needed to raise his game over the final two rounds of the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic in Florida if he was to win the PGA Tour money list.

Donald, needing a top-two finish to have a chance of overhauling American Webb Simpson, shared the first-round lead thanks to a six-under-par 66 but fell off the pace in the second round. Former Open champion Justin Leonard, South Korean Bio Kim and Swede Henrik Stenson piled the pressure on Donald by pulling five shots clear of the Englishman on 12 under par.

Donald started the day two shots ahead of American rival Simpson but the pair finished up neck and neck at seven under par after signing for second rounds of 71 and 69, respectively, on the Magnolia course.

Donald, who said he has been suffering from a sinus infection, said: “Sometimes you’ve got to fight ugly and play ugly. It was very ugly but sometimes you’re going to have rounds like that.

“I’m going to have to go pretty low on the weekend, shoot a low one and get in the mix.”

Leonard shot himself into contention with a nine-under 63 over the easier Palm course, while 21-year-old Kim enjoyed a 65 on the Magnolia layout. Stenson made it a three-way tie for the lead late on with an eight-under-par 64