HERO DUBAI DESERT CLASSIC

January 19, 2024

Luke Donald

Majlis Course at Emirates Golf Club

Press Conference

Q. Luke, overall thoughts on the round today?

LUKE DONALD: It was a decent round today. I thought different wind for the first like nine holes and then the wind sort of changed directions when we were playing our 10th and moved around.

You know, this is a course, well, not Cameron Young maybe, but I feel like it's not an easy setup. You have to hit it in the fairway. The greens are quite firm and fast. So it's a good test out there, and you know, for me, having not played a lot of competitive golf in the last four months to a couple rounds under par, I'm pretty pleased with that.

Q. One very clear highlight for the round today. Take us through that.

LUKE DONALD: Yeah, 4th hole, 183 yards, a little down off the right. I just hit a cut 8-iron and over this little hill. My eye sight is not that good thighs days. I couldn't see it but I saw some people behind the green jumping up-and-down. A shame it wasn't on camera but nice to get one of those.

Q. How many in tournaments and regular play?

LUKE DONALD: I've had three in tournaments, and I think that was number 19 total. So I've been pretty fortunate with the hole-in-ones. Sorry for anyone out there who has never had one. I've obviously taken them.

Q. What positives do you take from the first two rounds?

LUKE DONALD: Yeah, there's a lot of good there. I hit the ball really nicely yesterday. Didn't get quite as much out of it on greens today. A little loose off the tee. But overall, my iron play has been really strong. I'm very happy with some new irons I put in play that seem to be working pretty well.