Future looks pretty as a picture for Donald

Around this time of year the Augusta National golf course looks as pretty as a picture. And surely it won't be long before the artist known as Luke Donald captures on canvas his own victory there.

Donald majored in art at Northwestern University in Chicago and has been known to present close friends with oil paintings of an exceptionally high standard.

But the 27-year-old from Hemel Hempstead swings a golf club even better than he strokes a brush as his determined fightback to a share of third place in the Masters surely confirms.

Donald has been compared in style to that old master of the British school, Nick Faldo, and the winner of three green jackets would surely have approved of the way in which Donald, having followed up an opening 68 with an horrendous 77, came home with two rounds of 69.

Out of all the young guns emerging from Europe it is Donald who looks the most likely to end the continent's run of 22 majors without a win, extending back to Paul Lawrie's surprise victory in the wind-lashed Open at Carnoustie in 1999.

Donald had six top 13 finishes on the US PGA Tour ahead of the Masters. And having risen to 13th in the world rankings his positive attitude was demonstrated when he refused to dwell on "what if" he had kept it together in the second round.