England’s Luke Donald has again denied Rory McIlroy a long stay at World No. 1 by finishing inside the top-7 at the close of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

It is the second time Donald has gone back to World No. 1 in the absence of McIlroy who has not competed since his disappointing showing in the Masters.

Luke Donald Regains World No. 1 title some 11 months after first becoming the world's best golfer. (Photo - www.golfbytourmiss.com)

Donald teed up on the final day of the $US 6.4m event at 12-under par and just two strokes adrift of third round leader Jason Dufner.

However the Chicago-based Donald again showed his superb consistency in posting five birdies on the last day around the TPC Louisiana course to seal third place on 17-under par.

Donald first went to World No. 1 in defeating fellow Englishman Lee Westwood in a play-off nearly a year ago in the European Tour’s flagship BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

Donald held the World No. 1 title until McIlroy captured the Honda Classic earlier this year.

Donald ‘twittered’ to McIlroy to enjoy the view and it proved to be short-lived with McIlroy only enjoying the view from the summit of the rankings for a fortnight before Donald regained the top placing with victory in sensational manner with a play-off success at the Transitions Championship.

McIlroy ‘twittered’ he enjoyed the view while it lasted but then managed to regain the No. 1 world ranking, and bizarrely by not teeing-up in a tournament following last week’s Valero Texas Open won by American Ben Curtis.

Now the World Ranking merry-go-round continues with Donald recapturing golf’s top ranking.

And it is very likely to change next week at Charlotte, North Carolina as McIlroy returns to competition in the Wells Fargo Championship and an event he won in sensational manner two years ago.

However, and in the absence next week of Donald, McIlroy will be looking to perform better than he did last year when he missed the halfway cut in the defence of the title.