Luke Donald

The former world No. 1 returned from an injury layoff, albeit with little success. The 41-year-old Englishman played 12 events in 2018-19, making six cuts, with a lone top-10 at the Valspar. He still is eligible under a major medical extension; he has three tournaments left to earn about 220 FedEx Cup points. If he doesn't get them - and there's an outside chance he can by picking the right fall series events to play - Donald would fall back into the Past Champions category.

Donald peaked in 2011, when he earned more than $6.5 million and grabbed the world number one ranking. Since then, he hasn't showed that form very often. The further he gets away from 2011, the less he looks like the player that was once ranked as the best in the world. Last season was the first time he had fallen under $1 million in earnings since 2007. There has been hope for a comeback for years now, but it looks like it's time to finally put those hopes to rest. Donald simply doesn't have the upside he once did and as such he's not a good salary cap option.

It seems like a lifetime ago that Luke Donald was on top of the golf world, but it was in-fact, just five years ago. During that magnificent year, Donald picked-up two wins on his way to over $6.6 million in earnings and of course, a #1 WGR. The season that followed was also strong, but it was the beginning of a slow downward trend, one that he only started to pull out of last season. Donald is one of the more interesting cases on the PGA Tour this year. He has an incredible upside, but his production over the past four years has been underwhelming. With that said, he's probably worth a look in salary cap leagues this year as he showed a little more life last season than he had in the previous three seasons. In draft leagues he's a fifth- or sixth-rounder.

It's very dangerous to give up on a golfer who was once atop the world rankings, but how long will it take for Donald to show his old form again? It's been a while since he was ranked number one in the world, but visions of that player are hard to ignore when looking at a price tag of under $1.5 million. Will he ever get back to where he was several years ago? Probably not, but it wouldn't take much to outgain his 2014 significantly. He's not a "must-have" in salary cap leagues, but he should be given consideration. In draft leagues he's likely to go higher than he should, but he should go around the 6th round.

While other players around his age and talent level are winning majors, Donald seems stuck in neutral. Nearly $2 million in earnings is quite the season for just about anyone, but we've come to expect more from Donald. We've seen his upside, he's blown by the $2 million dollar mark in previous years, but it seems like we haven't seen his best form in quite a while. The good news is, at this price, he's worth the pick in salary cap leagues because there's virtually no risk and a lot of upside. In draft leagues he could be taken as early as the 10-20 range.

Few players on the PGA TOUR can earn $3.5 million and underperform, as Donald did last season. Of course, when you earn $6.6 million the previous season, expectations are going to be high. Not only did Donald disappoint from an earnings perspective, but he also came up empty at the majors. Donald is the rare player, though, who has the potential to destroy a number in the mid-$3-million range. Heck, he did it just two years ago. The down side with Donald is the number of events he skips. Donald played in only 17 events last season and 19 in 2011. The upside is he plays in all the big events. He'll have to make the trips to those events count this year if he's going to improve his earnings from last season, but he's certainly capable. Donald is a pretty solid pick in salary cap leagues this year and should go late first round or early second round in draft leagues.

It only took about five, six years, but Donald finally lived up to the lofty expectations last year. Actually, Donald exceeded expectations last season, but even though he captured the money title, as well as two victories and a whopping 14 Top-10s, he's still missing something rather large on his resume - a major title. It's only a matter of time, however, as Donald has proven he can handle the spotlight. He just needs to put it all together during a major and the titles should start flowing. That's the good news. The bad news is he's priced way too high to consider in a salary draft. In a regular draft, he's among a small group of players to consider drafting first overall.

Was 2010 the breakout year everyone expected from Donald? The numbers would say so as a he earned a career-high $3.6 million. Noticeably absent from his 2010 resume, however, is a notch in the win column. In fact, it was Donald's fourth consecutive season on the PGA TOUR without a victory. This is a case where the earnings do not tell the entire story. Sure, his numbers in 2010 look solid, but Donald is too talented to go through an entire season without a win. On the bright side, he earned five top-3s last season, which shows that he was close to winning multiple times in 2010. Donald will eventually close one out, and it will likely happen early in the season. Expect Donald to get back into the winner's circle in 2011, possibly more than once. Donald is a master around and on the greens, but getting to those greens often proves troublesome for him.

Perhaps no golfer has teased us more than Luke Donald over the last five years. One tournament he looks like the next big thing, and the next he disappears and can't be found with a searchlight. There's no way to know for certain if 2010 will be his breakout year, but as long as he finds success here and there you might as well take a shot with him. Unlike many other players near this spot on the money list, Donald has the talent to crack $3 million, or even $4 million, in earnings this season. He ranked 31st in the 2008 Official World Golf Rankings but improved slightly in moving up to 28th at the end of 2009.

Donald played in only 11 events last year. Unless you expect the same this year, there's absolutely no reason to pass on him. Donald is a must have at this price. While he may not make a return to his better years this season, at worst he's looking at $2 million.

2007 was supposed to be a break-out year for Donald, but he wasn't able to take his game to the next level. Perhaps getting married in the middle of the season was a distraction. Whatever the reason, Donald comes into 2008 as one of the best value picks on the board. According to the 2007 money list, Donald is ranked 29th, but he should be a top-20 pick in draft leagues and nearly a must have in salary cap leagues. Donald underwent wrist surgery on August 11 to correct damage incurred in the U. S. Open. He is not expected back until the spring of 2009.

Think of Donald as Adam Scott light. Almost as much potential as Scott, and almost as accomplished to this point. Perhaps the best trait that Donald has to offer is the ability to make money every time out. In 18 events last year he missed only one cut. More astounding is that once he makes the cut, he rarely blows the opportunity. Of the 16 cuts made last year, he finished outside the top 25 only twice. Consistency plus potential, now that's a great formula. There is no reason to think he won't again improve in 2007.

Luke Donald was going to be a really good pick this year. That is, until he won the Target World Challenge. Donald had done, or not done, just enough to come in under the radar for 2006. Now, he'll be a pretty popular pick. That doesn't change the fact he's in for a good season, but it might limit the effectiveness against teams in your league because he'll be on a lot of rosters.

Cool Hand Luke has a chance to double the $1.6 million he made last year if a few things fall right for him in 2005. Just 27, he's one of the brightest up-and-comers in the game right now (notable for his superb iron play). Donald won twice on the European Tour in 2004, and he had four top-10s on the PGA Tour. He also took a spot on the winning European Ryder Cup team.

Donald will be a tough golfer to try and figure out going into the 2004 campaign. He has all the skills to win on tour, but he's got to be more consistent off the tee and make a few more putts. We don't predict a win for him in 2004, but 2005 looks very possible.