Hey, Luke Donald, Where the Hell Did That Come From?

Luke Donald entered the week ranked 878th in the world. In three PGA TOUR starts this year, he’s 0-3 making it to the weekend. And for the cherry on top, he’d yet to post an under-par round.

I don’t know what the hell he ate this morning, but the European Ryder Cup captain fired a bogey-free 4-under 67 around the 7,626-yard Quail Hollow—he’s averaged 274 yards off the tee this season, so he’s not exactly a great course fit around this place.

So, how did he do it? Well, ranking 1st in Strokes Gained: Putting (5.007) and converting every up-and-down opportunity helped the cause.

Starting on the par-4 first, Donald made three pars to start his championship before adding his first birdie on the par-3 fourth after his tee shot settled four feet from the hole. After three more pars, he added another circle to the card at the par-4 eighth to make the turn with a 2-under 33.

On his way back to the clubhouse, Donald birdied the par-5 10th and the par-4 14th, and made his way through the infamous Green Mile (holes 16-18) unscathed.

Just a really, really impressive stroll around Quail Hollow for the Englishman.

I wouldn’t pencil him in for his own Ryder Cup team quite yet, but nevertheless, he’ll enter the second round in prime position to make his first cut of the season.