Monty: Donald can rule world

Former Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie believes Luke Donald will claim golf's No1 ranking this weekend before going on to win his first major next month.

The 33-year-old hit an opening round of 64 yesterday at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth to lead the field by two shots.

Donald will top the rankings for the first time, on Sunday evening, if he finishes ahead of current No1 Lee Westwood and Germany's Martin Kaymer does not claim a top-two place.

And with the world Nos 1 and 3 having rounds of 72 and 74 respectively, Donald is on course to claim top spot.

Montgomerie, who himself enjoyed a good day finishing two under par, believes Donald has a fair chance of grabbing his first major at next month's US Open.

"I would see Luke winning this event and there's no reason why, if he wins here, it won't give him the confidence to go forward," he said.

"He's playing the best golf in the world right now. If he's not winning every week, he's finishing second.

"I shot a 65 round here when I was world No2 but he is a better player than I ever was. He has a much better short game than I ever had.

"He's going to the US Open with huge confidence and I can see not only a European winner of that, I can see Europeans fighting it out for the win."

Ian Poulter denied Donald the opportunity of going to the top of the rankings last Sunday by beating him in the final of the Volvo World Match Play in Spain.

And after six holes of play today, Poulter had caught up one stroke on his compatriot and was three under par.

But Donald's biggest challenge could come from Italian teenager Matteo Manassero, who hit a 66 yesterday.