Luke Donald. Photo / AP
World No 1 Luke Donald began the back nine with six birdies to win the United States PGA's season-ending event yesterday and capture the American money title in his quest for a historic double.
Donald, trying to become the first golfer with US and European money titles in the same year, fired a final-round eight-under 64 to finish 72 holes on 17-under 271 at the US$4.7 million ($5.8 million) Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Classic.
The 33-year-old Englishman, who began the day five strokes adrift, had a two-shot edge after his stunning birdie streak, which was capped with an astounding 13m putt at the par-3 15th to serve notice he would not be denied.
"Hadn't really gotten on a run all week. What better time to do it than the back nine [yesterday]?" Donald said.
"It's nice to be able to do it under pressure. It's nice to be able to do it when it matters."
Donald was forced to wait for three hopefuls in the last groups to finish to secure a victory and the money crown.
US rookie Kevin Chappell made bogey at 16 to falter, Australian Nick O'Hern took bogey at 17 to stumble.
The 1997 British Open champion, Justin Leonard, then missed his bid at eagle from the 18th fairway to ensure Donald's triumph.
The British star beat US veteran Leonard by two shots with Chappell, fellow American Tom Pernice and South Korean Sunghoon Kang sharing third on 274.
Kang and Pernice barely kept their US tour status for 2012 with the results.
In the end, Donald took the US$846,000 top prize to finish on US$6,683,214 and defeat American Webb Simpson by US$335,861.
Simpson, who played alongside Donald all four rounds in a head-to-head duel, finished with a 69 to stand on 275, sharing sixth.
Simpson would have had to finish alone in second to deny him the title.
Donald leads second-place Rory McIlroy in the European Order of Merit by €1.6 million ($2.7 million) and was atop the US list until Simpson passed him last week.
The only other time one player overtook another in the final event to win the US PGA money title was in 1996, when Tom Lehman overtook Phil Mickelson for the crown.
Donald's only previous US triumph in 2011 came at the World Golf Championships Match-Play Championship.
His only other American titles were at the 2006 Honda Classic and 2002 Southern Farm Bureau Classic.
Donald's season has also included two European Tour triumphs, the BMW PGA Championship and the Scottish Open.
- AFP
No comments:
Post a Comment