In special place, Donald uses putter to paint masterpiece

DUBLIN, Ohio -- Given the number of sharks in the professional waters these days, any win, anytime, is darned meaningful.

But sometimes, there's an undercurrent that makes a particular possibility all the more exciting, if not personally paramount.

The tee isn't where Luke Donald makes his mark -- he needs only 20 putts. (AP)

This is one of those weeks for Luke Donald.

The Englishman has so many ties to the storied tournament host, Jack Nicklaus, that he almost qualifies for a permanent parking spot, like each of the Golden Bear's sons, whose names are painted in the front row of the lot outside the Muirfield Village clubhouse.

For guys born nearly four decades apart on different continents, they have intersected plenty over the past decade or so.

Donald has known Nicklaus since before he turned pro, is a member of the Bear's Club -- Jack's home track in Florida -- and both have done promotional endorsement work for the same Scottish bank. In a weird quirk, Donald even secured his PGA Tour card at Q-school eight years ago at Bear Lakes, a Nicklaus design in West Palm Beach, with Nicklaus in attendance. Donald won the Nicklaus Award as the top player in the NCAA ranks in 1999.

Best of all, Donald was paired with Nicklaus as the latter made his final appearance in an official event, at the British Open in 2005, playing two rounds at historic St. Andrews and posing for pictures with the Bear on the famed Swilcan Bridge on No. 18.

"It's one of the most-special days I've had on a golf course," Donald said.

Frankly, with all of the above representing his interpersonal background, Thursday obviously didn't suck, either.

At an event that has been won by some of the greatest names in the game, Donald fired an 8-under 64 to take the lead in the first round of the venerable Memorial Tournament, establishing a tournament record for fewest putts with 20.

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Donald gave dozens of copies of the St. Andrews photo of him and Nicklaus, along with fellow playing partner Tim Watson, to friends over the years and even convinced Nicklaus to autograph a few of them first. Donald said he keeps a photo in a prominent place at his own abode, too.

"I've been very fortunate to spend a little bit of time with Jack Nicklaus," said Donald, who is not exactly the type who hyperventilates from hype. "And it's nice to play well at his tournament."

This is a joint where the greatest of their era have left a mark. Past Memorial winners include the Hall of Fame likes of Nicklaus, Ray Floyd, Vijay Singh, Greg Norman, Hale Irwin, Tom Watson and Curtis Strange, plus future inductees Ernie Els and Tiger Woods, not to mention contemporary stars such as Kenny Perry, Fred Couples and Jim Furyk.

A framed picture on the clubhouse wall, alongside those dudes, would be as rewarding as the Swilcan shot, no doubt. And Donald is a guy who knows a little something about things that hang on walls.

Donald, who has an art degree from Northwestern, has often been noted for his oil paintings and drawings, which have been featured in several publications. As far as hobbies go, he'd be about a 5-handicap artist.

Most folks, then, would be surprised to learn that he's hardly the right-brained, artiste type. Donald is the weirdest of combinations: an anal-retentive, fastidious, left-brained who can still appreciate the less-structured, bohemian, right-brained elements of life.

"Luke is a list-maker, the most organized person I have ever known," said Pat Goss, his swing guru and the coach at Northwestern.

Donald hardly argues the point.

"I'm a planner, I'd say," he said, smiling.

Combine the two attributes -- somebody with an attention to detail and an appreciation for artistic elements -- and you perhaps have a guy who can envision and execute putts from everywhere. Donald has steadily improved as a putter over the years, which is a true rarity, after finishing his rookie season in 2002 at a dismal No. 138.

Paint brush or putter, the stroke has gotten better.

"I had some weaknesses, I think, in my fundamentals when I first got out on tour from college," he said.

That's a long way back in his rear-view mirror. Donald, ranked first on the PGA Tour in putting average, dropped a staggering 123 feet in putts Thursday, which acutely demonstrated that his putting ranking is no fluke. For the year, he has been credited with making an insane 433 of 437 attempts from inside five feet.

"One of those days when I saw good lines and they went in," he said.

Just like a well-drawn piece of artwork. But there would be no prettier picture than winning the tournament this week. Now he just has to conjure it up in his head and execute.

"It would mean a lot to play well here and have a chance to win," Donald said. "But it's extra special because I do know Jack a little bit better than some of the other guys."