Luke Donald finds peace after his Ryder Cup agony with a back to basics approach Let's face it, but for a few instances during the season I would have qualified by right. If Matt Kuchar had not holed that bunker shot at the last to deny me the win at Hilton Head and if Rory [McIlroy] had not got on that birdie run on the back nine at Wentworth I could have won there. All these things flash through your mind when you're trying to come to terms with it. But then, the last few months I did not play well at all and you realise you can't blame anyone but yourself. Not to say the disappointment didn't sit with me for a few weeks. It did. McGinley was the factor which made the misery so profound for Donald, although not for the reason most would assume. "Of course, you always want to play in the Ryder Cup - it's provided probably my most enjoyable moments in the game," Donald said. But my desire to play at Gleneagles was heightened because I knew how good Paul would be as a captain. He has been a big influence on me in the Ryder Cup [he partnered McGinley in his very first match in 2004] and I love the way he plans out everything. He's methodical, puts in all the work, leaves no stone unturned. That's in my nature as well, and I really wanted to play under him. Yes, when I saw the guys on TV, I did feel a bit jealous. It was hard to watch the last day, but I couldn't tear myself away. It's great theatre: there's nothing like rooting for the guys. Donald encapsulated all these thoughts in a text message to McGinley on that Sunday evening. That meant a lot to the Dubliner, who had earlier confessed that he thought the next time he and Donald crossed paths "it will be difficult." He need not have worried. "He had a job to do and did it amazingly," Donald said. I have nothing for Paul but admiration. The same applies to Cook, the Texan veteran who coached Payne Stewart and Tom Kite and who, more recently, oversaw Jason Dufner's transformation from journeyman into a major champion. After 16 years with Goss, his coach since his college days in Chicago, Donald shocked the game by going to Cook last August. A few months earlier, he had played with Justin Rose when his compatriot won the US Open and Donald was desperate to make the big step. Alas, the big step was backwards. When he joined Cook, Donald was a top 10 player, having been world No1 less than a year before. Now he is 34th. Chuck and I talked after I missed out on the Ryder Cup and the Tour Championship and we agreed that if after 13 months the improvements weren't coming then it was wise to look elsewhere. Chuck and I still have a great relationship, it's just that I physically couldn't do some of it. Cook tried to take the "flip" out of Donald's swing and "get me to use my bigger muscles more." That meant less wrist and more turn. It was a big alteration but I thought I could do it as I've always considered myself a fast learner. But I can see how difficult it is to break down 30 years of golfing DNA. It's funny, we see someone like Tiger [Woods] going through radical swing changes and winning more and more majors and think it can be done. But actually there are not many players who have ripped it all up and been successful. I lost sight of what made me successful. I focused too much on my what I perceived as my weakness and forgot about my strength, which is from 150 yards and in. Donald is brave enough to recognise a mental weakness, as well. When I was No 1, I probably wanted that major too much. I came close to winning majors under Pat but figured I needed to be a better ball-striker, figured there had to be an overhaul of the whole package. "But I'm not a "big picture" sort of guy. I prefer making small improvements each day. Pat understands that and for the first few weeks we didn't talk about swing, just did some really good work on my wedge play and putting. I'm ready to compete again. Keegan Bradley is one who could testify to his friend's wellbeing. Both are members of the Bear's Club in West Palm Beach and the money has been changing hands. Donald neither confirmed or denied that Tom Watson's captaincy, or the fall-out, came up in conversation with Bradley, but he was prepared to make what he believes to be an obvious point. "There seemed to be unrest in the US team-room and perhaps Watson's motivation wasn't great," Donald said. It's not my place to comment. But look, Europe have won eight out of the last 10 matches and to my mind that cannot be a coincidence. There must be things we are doing right and things the US continue to do wrong. It's not really our problem. We have to carry on the way we are doing it. It is a case of "if it ain't broke." And with the benefit of painful experience, that will be something Donald will now always keep in mind.