California: England's Luke Donald has finishedbetter every year he has played the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, and this yearhe hopes he can maintain that progress.

"This whole area is pretty special," Donald said. "I think ittakes a different kind of mental attitude this week than most weeks justbecause it is the pro-am format. Rounds can be quite slow. You have to be verypatient."

Donald, ranked eighth in the world, is one of five top-10 players enteredhere, along with world No. 2 Jim Furyk, No. 6 Phil Mickelson, No. 7 Vijay Singhand No. 9 Padraig Harrington.

As has largely been his custom, world No. 1 Tiger Woods is skipping the 5.4million-dollar tournament played over three courses: PebbleBeach,Spyglass and Poppy Hills.

Since 2004, Donald has improved here every year.

Three years ago, Donald tied for 17th. He tied for 11th in 2005 and tied forseventh last year, when he led the first round after tying the course record of62 at Spyglass.

"I enjoy playing here," Donald said.

 "The greens are pretty tricky;they can be a little bobbly at times. You really have to be very patientmentally," he said.

While Spyglass is considered the toughest of the three layouts, it is theone where Donald has had the most success.

"It's just one of those rounds where everything kept building andbuilding, getting a lot more momentum behind me," Donald said of hisopening round last year.

"It was one of those rounds I felt invincible. I looked at a putt andit's going in."

But Donald struggled at PebbleBeach and Poppy Hills.

In the second round, he shot a 72 at PebbleBeachand fell four shots off the pace. The deficit grew to seven after a third-round71 at Poppy Hills.

Back at PebbleBeach for the final day,he shot a 74.

"I suppose I've played the best at Spyglass.

"I'm not sure exactly why," Donald said.

"I've struggled a little bit more at Pebble and Poppy. I guess I alwayskind of pushed Poppy away a little bit when I come here. I usually don't play apractice round there, even though it's a somewhat tricky course."

Donald did not play a practice round there again this year, instead focusingon the other two courses and trying to get in rounds before a storm arrived Wednesdayafternoon.

Rain is forecast for all four days. The tournament could face its firstserious weather delay since 2000, when rain forced a Monday conclusion afterseveral delays and a suspension.

"It could be a bit of a wet week that will obviously make ittougher," Donald said.

"The wetter it is here, the tougher it gets, especially on the greens.You have to really control the spin, plus with all the amount of playersplaying, you get some footprints out there if it's soft."

Although Donald hails from Englandand is familiar with cold, wet conditions, he is certainly no fan of them.

"I'm more accustomed to the good USweather," said Donald, who has lived in Florida the past 10 years.