Luke Donald wins Madrid Masters

Luke Donald secured a one-stroke victory over Rhys Davies in the Madrid Masters at Real Sociedad Hipica Espanola Club de Campo and climbed into the World's top-10 as a result.

Luke Donald
Fergus Bisset
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Luke Donald secured a one-stroke victory over Rhys Davies in the Madrid Masters at Real Sociedad Hipica Espanola Club de Campo and climbed into the World's top 10 as a result.

Donald fired a brilliant closing round of 67 to round off a superb week's golf and bounce back in the best possible way from narrowly missing victory in last week's BMW PGA Championship.

The final round at the Real Sociedad Hipica Espanola Club de Campo was a close-run affair between Donald and Davies but the Englishman effectively sealed the win with an eagle three at the par-5 16th - his third eagle of the week. "It's because I'm a big hitter," laughed Donald.

Donald's last victory on the European Tour was in the Omega European Masters of 2004 and his last on any tour was at the Honda Classic in 2006.

"It's been a while since I last won and to put last week behind me makes me very proud," said Donald.

Donald has climbed to ninth on the Official World Ranking making it an incredible four English golfers in the top 10.

With his runner's-up finish Rhys Davies continued his climb up the World Ranking and the Ryder Cup points list and was philosophical about missing out on the title.

"I didn't make a bogey in the final group in a big tournament," Davies said. "It didn't quite come off, but I've got lots to be pleased about."

Italy's Francesco Molinari joined the leaders when he eagled the 16th hole but it wasn't enough as Donald repeated the feat minutes later. The Italian finished alone in third, a shot ahead of Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell.

Madrid Masters Real Sociedad Hipica Espanola Club de Campo May 27-30, purse €1,500,000, par 72

1    Luke Donald (Eng)    65    67    68    67    267    €250,000 2    Rhys Davies (Wal)    65    68    67    68    268    €166,660 3    Francesco Molinari (Ita)    67    70    65    68    270    €93,900 4    Graeme McDowell (Nir)    68    68    70    65    271    €75,000 5    Robert Rock (Eng)    70    68    67    68    273    €63,600 T6    Jamie Donaldson (Wal)    65    70    70    70    275    €45,000 T6    Stephen Gallacher (Sco) 69    73    66    67    275    €45,000 T6    Peter Lawrie (Ire)        71    69    68    67    275    €45,000 9    Oliver Wilson (Eng)    70    71    70    65    276    €33,600

Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage only

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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