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Luke Donald (left) shakes hands with Johan Edfors after their match in the World Match Play Golf Championship tournament in Casares, Spain, on Saturday. (AP)
Martin Kaymer and Luke Donald will do battle once again in the semifinals of the Volvo World Match Play Championship in Casares, Spain on Sunday and both will have the added incentive of the world number one spot.
It was just three months ago that Englishman Donald played superb golf to defeat Kaymer 3 and 2 in the final of the WGC Matchplay tournament, a display that the German said was of the highest order.
Both won through their quarter-finals ties on Saturday by two holes - Kaymer defeating remaining home hope Alvaro Quiros and Donald getting the better of South Africa’s Masters champion Charl Schwartzel.
Current world number one Lee Westwood had already been sent packing in the morning’s action when he lost at the last to Ian Poulter in the final game of the round of 16.
That opened the way for either Kaymer, ranked second, or Donald who is third, to replace him atop the rankings although nothing short of victory on Sunday will do for either man.
“I escaped this morning,” Donald said of his win at the first extra hole over Johan Edfors of Sweden, “but then I played a lot better and made it hard for Charl.”
The Englishman believes he has the psychological edge on Kaymer after beating him so recently, but he also admits he has been under the weather for the last three weeks.
Asked if he was suffering from ‘Luke Donald Disease’ - an American writer invented the term two years ago to describe all golfers often in contention, but rarely winning - he just smiled before replying: “If it’s brought on by hard work and belief, then yes it is.
“Luckily I don’t have to swing with my throat.”
There was disappointment though for another member of the victorious European Ryder Cup team Graeme McDowell.
He was in top form in the morning to see off fellow Ulsterman and close friend Rory McIlroy 3 and 2, but failed to reproduce that performance in the afternoon as he lost 2 and 1 to the surprising Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium.
His semifinal opponent will be flamboyant Englishman Poulter who overturned a two hole deficit after 14 holes by winning three holes in a row to lead by one after 17.
Poulter made no mistake at the last, clinching a fine victory by two holes which brought back memories of his own big win in the Arizona Matchplay tournament last year when he beat Paul Casey in the final.
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