Donald calls for change

GOLF/US TOUR THE BARCLAYS:RYDER CUP wildcard pick Luke Donald questioned the qualifying process yesterday.

Donald, Padraig Harrington, Justin Rose and Paul Casey took a risk this week by choosing to play in the Barclays tournament, rather than travelling to Scotland for the final Ryder Cup points-counting event.

“I feel bad for the guys who didnt make it,” said the world number 10. “I feel bad for Paul, and Justin had a good chance too.

“The team has to look harder at the qualification system and whether it’s the correct way to do it or whether there's a better way.

“Golf is really becoming a world game and I understand they want to protect the European Tour, but at the same time, the top guys are going to want to play against the best players in the world no matter what and shouldn't be penalised for that.”

Donald blazed through his front nine at Ridgewood Country Club in seven-under 28 after starting with six successive birdies.

After finding out he had made the team midway through the round, the Englishman carded five bogeys for a three-under 68 and a six-under total of 278.

Rory Sabbatini shot the round of the day yesterday in New Jersey, with a seven-under-par 64.

Pádraig Harrington – who also found out he was a wildcard pick for the Ryder Cup mid-round – shot 75 for a total of one-under, with Rory McIlroy a further two shots back after a final round 72.