Luke Donald wins at Disney

Luke Donald produced a superb final round of 64 to win the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Classic at Disney World in Florida and to secure the PGA Tour money list title for 2011.

Luke Donald
Fergus Bisset
By
published

Luke Donald produced a superb final round of 64 to win the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Classic at Disney World in Florida and to secure the PGA Tour money list title for 2011.

After Webb Simpson finished runner-up in last week's McGladrey Classic, the American replaced Donald at the top of the money table. That persuaded the Englishman to make a late change to his schedule and to enter the event at Disney. Although his wife is soon due to give birth, the World Number 1 didn't want to give up on the chance to become the first player ever to top the money lists on both the PGA and European Tours.

The task was straightforward, if challenging. He needed to win the event and for Simpson to finish worse than second. With nine holes to play, it looked an unlikely result as Donald trailed leader Kevin Chappell by four shots and was also behind playing partner Simpson.

But the 33-year-old rallied and fired off six straight birdies from the 10th. That put him into the lead and two pars later, he'd signed for a 64 and the clubhouse lead at 17-under-par.

With Simpson in at 13-under, it quickly became clear that he wasn't going to be able to take second place. So it was then down to the later starters to seal Donald's fate. Neither Kevin Chappell nor Justin Leonard could match the Englishman's total, so Donald took the title and the money list.

"This is one of the most satisfying wins of my career," he said. "Everything was on the line, I'm thrilled."

Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Classic Disney's Palm and Magnolia courses, Lake Buena Vista, Florida Oct 20-23, purse $4,700,000, par 72 1   Luke Donald (Eng)   66   71   70   64   271   $846,000 2   Justin Leonard (USA)   69   63   70   71   273   $507,600 T3   Kevin Chappell (USA)   70   66   66   72   274   $244,400 T3   Sunghoon Kang (Kor)   68   71   67   68   274   $244,400 T3   Tom Pernice Jr (USA)   68   69   68   69   274   $244,400 T6   Trevor Immelman (RSA) 72   68   66   69   275   $147,110 T6   Billy Mayfair (USA)   68   70   67   70   275   $147,110 T6   Nick O'Hern (Aus)   68   66   70   71   275   $147,110 T6   John Rollins (USA)   71   67   70   67   275   $147,110 T6   Webb Simpson (USA)   68   69   69   69   275   $147,110

Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage

Fergus Bisset
Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He has also worked with Golf Monthly to produce a podcast series. Called 18 Majors: The Golf History Show it offers new and in-depth perspectives on some of the most important moments in golf's long history. You can find all the details about it here.

He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?

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