Donaldson set for US PGA bow

Welshman Jamie Donaldson will play his first major in America next week despite falling out of the world's top 100.

Donaldson, yet to win on the European Tour in well over 200 starts, dropped from 98th to 102nd on the rankings after finishing only 45th at the Irish Open, but was still offered a place in the US PGA Championship in Atlanta.

A former colleague of Luke Donald and Paul Casey in the world amateur team championships, the 35-year-old's only major so far was the 2006 Open at Hoylake.

He has made 10 other attempts to qualify for The Open.

Scot Stephen Gallacher, third in Killarney on Sunday and up from 103rd to 90th in the world as a result, will also be part of the British contingent in Atlanta. He finished a major-best 18th at Whistling Straits a year ago.

Swede Carl Pettersson, only two places below Donaldson on the rankings, is only 10th reserve for the final major of the season as those spots are determined on a separate points list based on all events from last year's US PGA as opposed to over a two-year period.

First reserve, for instance, is American Tom Gillis, yet he is only 152nd in the world.

Source: PA