Luke Donald created history in becoming the first golfer ever to win the money list titles on both the PGA and European Tours.
Luke Donald - No. 1 in the world, No. 1 in Europe & No. 1 in the U.S. (Photo - Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)
Spain’s Alvaro Quiros sensationally holed a 40-foot eagle put to capture the Dubai World Championship.
A weary-looking Rory McIlroy barely had enough gas in his tank to end his season in 11th place to finish runner-up to Donald in the Race to Dubai standings.
And to round off one of the most news packed days in golf, the European Tour announed the Race to Dubai will finish in the UAE for the next three seasons while the season ending tournament will be renamed – DF World Tour Championship, Dubai.
Also the event will receive a boost of $US 1/2m next year that will make for a total prize purse of a staggering $US 8m.
DONALD TEARS IN EYES
Donald had tears in his eyes in dedicating his historic accomplishment to the memory of his father, Colin who passed away last month and two weeks before the birth of Donald’s second child.
The Race to Dubai winners - Tour CEO, George O'Grady with Alvaro Quiros who captured Dubai World Championship and World No. 1 Luke Donald who created history in winning both the PGA Tour No. 1 title and now the European No. 1 crown. (Photo - www.golfbytourmiss.com)
In the end, Donald easily saw off the challenge of a run-down McIlroy to birdie his closing three holes in a second straight round of 66 and snatch third place on 16-under par in the season-ending Dubai World Championship.
The 34-year old Chicago-based Donald ended three shots behind Spain’s big-hitting Alvaro Qurios who shut out any chance Scotland’s Paul Lawrie had of victory by eagling the last in a score of 67 for a two stroke win on 19-under par.
“Winning both money list titles is something I didn’t think was possible,” said Donald.
“But I’ve played extremely solid, consistent golf all year, winning four times, so it’s a testament to my hard work and it’s nice to see it paying off.”
And among the first to embrace Donald was his caddying brother, Christian.
“My father popped into my head quite a few times, especially after 13 when I kind of knew I had won the Race to Dubai, and I just starting remembering him and thinking he would have been proud of me,” said Donald.
“Christian then met me in the scorer’s hut and said, ‘well done, and that Dad would have been really proud of me, and well down for doing it for Dad’.”
QUIROS’ THIRD DESERT SWING SUCCESS
Quiros, 28 also became the first player ever to win the ‘Dubai Double’ after taking out the Omega Dubai Desert Classic earlier this year.
“Obviously I was lucky to hole that long putt,” said the smiling Spaniard.
Fran Caffrey's cracking shot of Alvaro Quiros' reaction after eagling 18 to win the Dubai World Championship. (Photo - Stuart Adams/www.golf
“I love playing in Dubai, the great weather helps a lot and long hitters like me have an advantage here.”
It was Quiros’ sixth European Tour win and his third on the Tour’s ‘Desert Swing’ after capturing last year’s Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.
LAWRIE GOES CLOSE TO DOUBLING YEARLY EARNINGS
Lawrie went close to doubling his prior earnings this year n birding the last in a similar 67 as Quiros to finish second on his own.
The former Open Champion took it right to Quiros coming from two behind to draw level with a birdie at eight and then go one in front when the Cadiz golfer dropped a shot at nine.
However for the third day running the par four, 12th hole proved Lawrie’s undoing when he found the round with his drive, a bunker with his second and walking off with a bogey.
“Twelve was the turning point for me as I hit a really good second shot from the rough that just caught the bunker but with the ball rolling back down into the splash mark, so it was semi-plugged from where I made bogey,” he said.
“I could see that Alvaro got a little bit of a lift from my bogey as I hadn’t look like making a bogey all day.
“His body language changed and from there on I just couldn’t get a putt to go in. “
Quiros then birdied 14 and sealed Lawrie’s fate, and the £793,298 first prize cheque, by draining a 40-foot eagle on 18.
Lawrie earned a £528,863 payout to finish his 20th season in 18th place on the Race to Dubai and the leading money-winning Scot in Europe.
McILROY RUNS OUT OF GAS AND OUT OF THAILAND
McIlroy again had his new girlfriend, Caroline Wozinacki supporting a forlorn final round cause, and she walked the full 18 holes with her parents and brother, and enjoying the company of McIlroy’s parents Rosie and Jerry.
The seven were later observed spending the evening relaxing at the spectacular sail like Burj Al Arab hotel on Jumeirah Beach.
Rory McIlroy ponders a tourament too far. (Photo - Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)
McIlroy ends his fourth full season second on the Race to Dubai with earnings of Euro 4,002,168 after carding a third straight 71 for a share of 11th place at nine under par with good friend Graeme McDowell who recorded a 66.
After carding a 64 on day one to ignite hopes of denying Donald, McIlroy could only muster two birdies on day four.
“I just couldn’t get anything going when I needed to and to play a nine-hole stretch on Friday night and Saturday morning in 5-over par wasn’t good,” said McIlroy.
“That’s when the tournament got away from me.”
And after gently letting down organizers of this week’s Thailand Golf Challenge, McIlroy finally confirmed what everyone expected and indicating ‘No’ he was not travelling this week to Bangkok.
“The doctor advised me last night that another flight, a bit of jet-lag, sleeping patterns messed-up, is not what I needed.
“This week really was one week too many while next week would be a really big struggle, because she said, you know how bad you are feeling this week, you are going to feel even worse by the end of next week.”
McIlroy intends spending Christmas at home with his parents but is heading out to Thailand, if fully recovered, for a family holiday ahead of resuming practice in Dubai on January 12th ahead of his first event of 2012, the January 26th commencing Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
