March 12, 2025

A look back at Welshman Jamie Donaldson’s heroics at the 2014 Ryder Cup

Lisa Baker, Editor, Welsh Business News & News from Wales July 11, 2022
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It seems impossible to think that it has been almost ten years since Jamie Donaldson hit one of the sweetest wedges that the sport of golf has ever seen to win the Ryder Cup for Europe. Indeed, Donaldson’s inch-perfect approach into the 15th green was enough to win Europe the Ryder Cup and the Welshman lapped up the plaudits as he walked down to make his putt which was, tellingly, conceded by a shell-shocked Keegan Bradley before the 46-year-old could even get to the green.

It was, undoubtedly, the moment that the Welshman will be remembered for when he eventually retires. At least, with a world ranking position of 208 and just a few years before his 50th birthday, winning a major that would surely surpass that shot in terms of personal accolades seems to be a bridge too far for Donaldson at this stage of his career. The most up-to-date golf odds back that up with Donaldson not among the list of potential winners for any of the year’s majors owing to his world ranking position that is well outside of the top 50. Anyone in the top 50 naturally qualifies automatically for the season’s major championships.

Indeed, take a look through the Open Championship betting odds for 2022 and you won’t see any sign of Donaldson and rather younger players like Rory McIlroy who is at 15/2, and Jon Rahm at 12/1 to win the Claret Jug.

When that day comes, you can be certain that the narrative surrounding his career will focus on his Ryder Cup-winning performance in 2014 with his laser-like precision on the 15th hole being the particular highlight that golf enthusiasts look back on. Unsurprisingly, it is a moment that has been captured in time after Gleneagles laid a plaque in the exact place Donaldson hit it from as a way of commemorating the Welshman’s contribution to the Ryder Cup victory for Europe.

It was a special touch from the club and Donaldson was there for the unveiling where he was asked to hit the same shot to see if he could get it any closer. Incredibly, the Welshman had the measure of the 15th once more and landed his ball less than a metre from the flag, proving that it was no fluke when he did it in the heat of battle during the Ryder Cup.

Golfers will all be remembered for different reasons when they eventually depart the main tours and in Donaldson’s case, he will go down in European golfing folklore history for taking the Ryder Cup by the scruff of the neck and delivering one of the most dominant victories in recent times.

Some may argue that it is a meagre legacy to leave behind but if they do, then they don’t appreciate how demanding this tournament is and similarly, the number of players who have wilted under the intense glare that only the Ryder Cup can bring. Make no mistake, Donaldson is a European legend for being able to stand up to the challenge.

 

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