Donald claims PGA money crown with comeback victory
If there was any doubt about who deserves golf’s No. 1 ranking, Luke Donald erased it in stirring fashion at the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic in Orlando, Fla. Trailing by four with nine holes to play, Donald reeled off six consecutive birdies en route to a closing 64 and a two-shot victory over Justin Leonard.
Not only did Donald solidify his spot atop the world rankings, he claimed the PGA Tour’s money title for 2011 with a tally of $6,683,214. The Englishman overtook previous leader Webb Simpson, with whom he was paired all four days in Orlando.
Donald began Sunday’s final round on 9-under par, five behind co-leaders Leonard and Kevin Chappell. He birdied his first two holes, but bogeys on holes five and eight – sandwiching two more birdies – left Donald -11 at the turn.
Starting at the 10th, a series of sensational shots resulted in four birdies from inside 8 feet. Donald followed an 18-footer on 14 with a 45-foot bomb on 15 to cap the stunning run. Leonard could muster only pars over his final eight holes and finished solo second on -15. Chappell, Tom Pernice and Sunghoon Kang shared third on 14-under.
Simpson mounted an early challenge with an outgoing 33 and backed it with a birdie on 10, but played 1-over the rest of the way and tied sixth
The PGA Tour has concluded its regular season. Upcoming, non-official events include the CIMB Asia Pacific Classic Malaysia and the Presidents Cup, pitting the U.S. against a squad of International stars in Australia, November 17-20.
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