Donald the painter much in vogue

Abu Dhabi: He won't be claiming any trophies for sure - after finishing the second round down in 41st position - but Luke Donald might get the chance to capture a desert sunset on canvas while he is here.

The Englishman shot a first-round 71 and a second-round 73 to end up on par, following the opening days of competition here.

The rainy weather that Donald and his Pro-Am partner, former footballer Roberto Di Matteo, played through on Wednesday, finally gave way to bright skies and warm temperatures just in time for the serious competition to begin.

Donald, who studied art theory and practice at Northwestern University in Illinois, USA, on a golf scholarship, is a keen painter when he can find the time.

In demand

He has already had an oil-on-canvas piece auctioned off on the PGA website and while in the UAE, he revealed he had been approached by The Golf Channel which may commission some work from him.

"I started a painting just before Christmas," he explained. "I might be doing another one in a few weeks. The Golf Channel has approached me. They are doing some kind of big father/son idea going forward into 2008 and they wanted me to do a painting they could use as a promotional thing."

Donald, who came to Abu Dhabi on a quest for Ryder Cup points, before heading to Qatar next week, said there were landmarks in Abu Dhabi that he could paint. "It's been a bit too wet to sit outside," he said. "But obviously when you drive in the city, it's unbelievable to see the mosque. It's a pretty unbelievable building."

But the world No 18, who recently got married to his long-standing American girlfriend, Diane Antonopoulos in June last year, stressed that for him golf must always come first.

"Painting is kind of in the background more than anything. I concentrate mainly on golf," he said.