Donald charges to stunning US money win

Tuesday, 25 October 2011 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

LAKE Buena Vista, Florida (AAP-AP-AFP): Number one in the world rankings, Luke Donald ended all argument about who was number one on the US PGA Tour in 2011 with a sensational finish.

The Englishman ran off six straight birdies on the back nine to card an eight-under 64 and snatch a two shot victory in the season-ending event in Florida.

The $US846,000 first prize money allowed Donald to pip American Webb Simpson by $US335,861 and capture the tour season money title with $US6.68 million.

He also claimed the 2011 Vardon Trophy for the lowest adjusted scoring average of the season.

And Donald’s quest to be the first golfer to win both the US and European tour money titles in the same year is well and truly alive.

He leads in Europe by just over $US1.8 million from Rory McIlroy with five tournaments remaining.

But it was a desperately close run thing on Sunday.

Donald’s chances of overhauling Simpson looked shot for much of the tournament.

Not only was Donald four shots out of the lead with nine holes to play, he was two shots behind Simpson.

But his six straight birdies did the trick as he won from Justin Leonard.

“I told you guys on Wednesday that the goal was to win. Nothing was really going to be good enough other than that,” Donald said.

“This is one of the most satisfying wins of my career just because of that.

“It’s just knowing that I had to do it, and being able to do it ... it’s very, very special.”

He holed four straight birdie putts inside eight feet, took the lead with an 18-foot birdie on the par-5 14th hole, then sealed his stunning rally with a 45-foot birdie on the 15th hole.

“We gave ourselves a chance,” said Simpson, who shot 69 and tied for sixth.

“The fact is, playing against the best player in the world, he’s going to do something great like that most of the time, and he did.”

Donald, who only entered the Disney World event after Simpson decided to play at Sea Island last week, won for the second time this year on tour, as many as anyone else.

Ballots go out next week for the PGA Tour player of the year award, voted on by the players.

Donald, who finished at 17-under 271, couldn’t make a case for someone other than himself.

“I think I’ve answered everyone’s questions,” he said. “Coming into this week, I felt like Webb was probably the favourite. Obviously, I’ve drawn level on wins and I’ve gotten ahead on money.”