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Stirring back-nine charge secures Disney title for world No.1
Donald Disney duck pressure: World No.1 Luke Donald won the PGA Tour’s money title with victory at Disney
Luke Donald clinched the PGA Tour’s money list title thanks to an incredible back-nine charge for victory at the Disney Classic in Florida.
Donald arrived in Florida in the knowledge that he needed a top-two finish to have a chance of overtaking Webb Simpson at the top of the standings, a result the world No.1 duly delivered.
With nine holes to play Donald was five shots off the lead and seemingly out of contention. Hwever, the Englishman produced on a scintillating inward half that included six birdies. A final round 64 earned Donald a two-stroke victory over Justin Leonard, four shots ahead of playing partner and title rival Webb Simpson.
The triumph means Donald is on course to become the first player to top the money lists in both the United States and Europe.
Needing a win, Donald delivered in style. The Englishman’s consistency and lack of titles has made him the target of some criticism in recent years. Barker Davis of the Washington Times will be regretting his coining of the phrase “Luke Donald Disease’ to describe players who relentlessly pick up cheques without going all out to win. So targeted was Donald’s victory in Florida, that the 33-year-old should finally have dispelled that unmerited reputation.
This was the man from Hemel Hempstead’s fourth title in 2011 – to add to the WGC Accenture Matchplay, the BMW PGA and the Scottish Open – and a 14th top-ten from 19 starts on the PGA Tour.
Donald leads Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy by over £1m in the European Tour’s Race to Dubai with eight events remaining, though the standings leader will struggle to add to that margin as wife Diane is expecting their second child shortly.
“It’s been a tremendous year for me,” said Donald. “I answered a lot of critics’ questions coming here knowing I had to win, and doing it.”
A gracious Simpson conceded: “I just ran into a buzz saw! I expected the best player in the world to play well but I didn’t quite expect six birdies in a row. I didn’t quite have my game where I wanted it.”
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