KIAWAH ISLAND, South Carolina - Luke Donald says it has been "very inspiring" to watch British athletes win gold at the London Olympics as he's hoping some of that success rubs off on him at the PGA Championship.

"The fact you have one event every four years to work hard, to see some of those guys who don't perform and to see some of the guys that perform and win gold... There is a lot of raw emotions there," England's Donald said Tuesday.

The 34-year-old world number one said he would relish the opportunity to represent his country in the Summer Olympics and win a medal.

But as the top-ranked golfer in the world his first order of business is on the PGA Tour and trying to win his first major title at this week's 94th PGA Championship.

"Watching these Olympics certainly has inspired me in terms of having that wish to be there in four years," he said. Golf is set to be reinstated as an Olympic sport in the 2016 Games in Brazil.

"We have our four majors, and that is the tough part about the Olympics. Is it the greatest thing you could win in your sport?

"I would probably put a major above that right now. I have never experienced an Olympics but I know how highly regarded majors are."

Donald has 11 international victories, including two in 2012, but no majors despite being ranked No. 1 at the last six.

The closest he came this year in a major was a tie for fifth in the British Open. He tied for 32nd at the Masters and missed the cut at the US Open.

"Coming off the US Open I was very disappointed how I handled the situation mentally," he said.

"But I think there was a little bit of a breakthrough, just realizing at the Open Championship that no matter how I am hitting it physically, that there is always a way to be mentally on top and have control of how I want to feel come Thursday.

"I did that very well at the Open Championship and as a result I also played pretty well."

Only Tiger Woods, Greg Norman, Nick Faldo and Seve Ballesteros have been number one longer than Donald, and all of them had won a major before reaching the top of the ranking.

His tie for fifth at the British Open showed a resilience he will need at the Kiawah Island Golf Resort in the US state of South Carolina.

"It has an interesting mix of holes," he said. "The front nine maybe offers a little more opportunity with some shorter par-fours." - AFP

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