Luke Donald Profile & Career Earnings

*wins and career earnings current through December 2022

Luke Donald played his junior golf in his home country of England before coming to the United States for college. He accepted a scholarship from Northwestern University in 1997 and studied art theory and practice at the Chicago-area institution. While at Northwestern, Donald won the 1999 NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championship title.

In 2001, Luke Donald turned pro and debuted on the PGA Tour at the Reno-Tahoe Open on a sponsor’s exemption. Donald played in seven total events that year and finished T23 at qualifying school to earn his PGA Tour card for the 2002 season.

In his rookie season, Donald won the 2002 Southern Farm Bureau Classic for his first PGA Tour victory. Donald won the event (which was shortened to 54 holes due to weather) by one stroke over Deane Pappas. After that, Donald went winless on the PGA Tour until 2006, but he won two events in 2004 in Europe; the Scandinavian Masters and Omega European Masters.

In 2005, Donald made his first appearance at the Masters and finished in third place. Many looked at it as the beginning of a promising career at major championships for Donald. In 2006, he won the Honda Classic and tied for third at the PGA Championship. The 2005 Masters and 2006 PGA Championship, however, are still Donald’s best finishes in major championships.

In the 2008 U.S. Open, Donald suffered a wrist injury that forced him away from golf for six months. He would not see the winner’s circle again until 2010 at the Madrid Masters.

His biggest win to date came in 2011 when he won the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship. Donald defeated Matt Kuchar, Ryan Moore, Matteo Manassero, Edoardo Molinari, and Charley Hoffman to reach the final. He went on to defeat Martin Kaymer 3 & 2 in the championship match. He continued to play well in the U.S. and won on the European Tour in 2011, including the BMW PGA Championship at the Wentworth Club. It was his victory there that put Donald in the number one spot in the OWGR. 

Overall, 2011 was the most successful season for Luke Donald, as he won the PGA Tour money list title, the Vardon Trophy, the Byron Nelson Award, PGA Player of the Year, and PGA Tour Player of the Year.

In 2012, Donald won once each on the PGA Tour, European Tour, and Japan Golf Tour. He also spent most of the year jockeying back and forth with Rory McIlroy for the number-one ranking in the world. His wins that year at the Transitions Championship and BMW PGA Championship have been his most recent professional wins to date. In total, Donald spent 56 weeks as the top-ranked golfer in the OWGR.

Between wrist and back injuries keeping him out for periods of time, Donald is viewed as one of the best players to have never won a major championship. Only one other player has reached the world number one ranking without ever winning a major, Lee Westwood.

Luke Donald has had a stellar career in Ryder Cup play for Europe as he has amassed a 10-4-1 record and was a part of four winning teams (2004, 2006, 2010, 2012). Donald was announced as the European Ryder Cup captain for the 2023 matches that will be held in Italy. Originally, the captaincy was given to Henrik Stenson but was taken away due to his commitment to the LIV Golf circuit.

At 5-foot-9 and 160 pounds, Donald has balanced his lack of distance on tour with incredible accuracy, particularly with his irons. Donald is also considered to be one of the best short game players in golf, especially during his run in 2011 and 2012.

Luke Donald’s career earnings total $37,206,401.