Is Luke Donald Okay with Losing His World No. 1 Ranking?

Today’s golfers are an altogether different breed.

They are golf’s version of the labradoodle.

Sure, somewhere deep down they still have that competitive fire of a hunting dog, such as the Labrador Retriever, but money and pampering has turned into them into soft, fluffy hybrids, similar to the Labradoodle.

Back in the '40s, '50s and '60s, it was an eat-or-be-eaten world out on tour.

It was a travelling circus where guys had to win in order to become even somewhat wealthy, and they would just as quickly step on your face if it meant a victory.

Today?

Eh, not so much.

A large majority of today’s players are simply happy to collect their six-figure top-10 checks, head for their private jets and go on their merry way.

Why does someone like Adam Scott not get overly worked up about the fact that he has not yet won a major?

Well, perhaps it’s because he’s banked $25 million in career earnings on the PGA Tour alone, not to mention other worldwide earnings and sponsorship dollars.

Why isn’t Dustin Johnson ready to tear someone’s head off after letting three majors slip away between 2009 and 2010?

Well, he's 27-years old and has $14 million sitting in his bank account from on-course earnings alone.

Luke Donald was just removed from his throne atop the World Golf Rankings last weekend by 22-year-old Rory McIlory.

Donald’s reaction to the news?

“Well, (I) thought at least there's somewhere to improve from now,” Donald said Tuesday at Doral, where he is on hand for the WGC Cadillac Championship.

“It's hard to go very far when you're No. 1.  But no, I didn't give too much thought.  That's what happens.  I mean, I've had a little bit of a slow start.”

Is it something of a relief to not have the burden of the No. 1 ranking, Donald was then asked? 

“Yes, certainly there's going to be a lot more focus on Rory now, less focus on me and I can maybe just go about my business a little more with less distractions and a little bit less expectation.  But it's still nice to be No. 1, don't get me wrong.”

Umm, ok. So essentially it’s “nice” to be the top dog, but it's also no big deal if someone comes along and steals your bone.   

Tiger Woods was HEATED when Vijay Singh took the No. 1 ranking away from him back in 2004.

Woods came out the very next year and won six times, including two majors.

Donald?

Eh, it’s no big deal. He’s young, he’s wealthy, he plays golf for a living, no big deal if someone comes along and takes over his No. 1 spot, because he can “go about his business a little more with less distractions and a little bit less expectation.”

Now, there’s nothing wrong with a labradoodle, they make excellent family pets.

But if you were going out for a hunt, would you rather have a group of hunting dogs like Nicklaus, Woods, Hogan, Hagen, Palmer, etc. beside you, or a group of half hunting dog, half Poodle Labradoodles like Scott, Donald, Kuchar and Johnson?

There are many out there who believe that today’s professional golfers are simply not as hungry for victories as those from previous generations.

And based on Donald’s comments about losing his No. 1 ranking, they may be right.

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