Having lost his lead after a brilliant -5 31 by Paul Lawrie, Alvaro Quiros capped off a steady back nine where he made 7 pars and a birdie, with a monster putt for eagle at the 72nd, a -5 67 -19 total, for his 7th pro title and his second win in Dubai this year.
Paul Lawrie was second with a gallant 67 -17 of his own, making birdie at the last and for much of the afternoon looking like the winner.
In the end it was the finest of margins, and apart from the biggest payday of his career, €922,645, he gains a 5 year European tour exemption, entry into the 2012 Masters, US Open and Open championship, and he moves from 52 in the world to #20.
final results click here http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2011/tournamentid=2011091/leaderboard/index.html?showLeaderboard=Y
What is there left for me to say about Luke Donald, who finished with 3 straight birdies for another -6 66 and third place alone to win the Race to Dubai an add it to the money title and yes the Player of the Year awards that will follow on both sides of the Atlantic, a first in the history of this game..
First if this were Tiger, Obama would declare a national holiday, the media frenzy would be unmatched, the Golf Channel would explode, I get that and understand, so I thought I'd just get that out of the way.
Luke started this year coming off that historic Ryder Cup win at Celtic manner in September 2010, he was #9 in the world, with Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer, Paul Casey and Graeme McDowell who had his year of year's in the top 6 spots.
Luke missed the cut at Riviera (Northern Trust ) but then went to Tuscon and leaning up on his stellar matchplay record at the Ryder and Walker Cups, he won all 6 matches convincingly beating Martin Kaymer in the final.
Remember he then beat Lee Westwood in a playoff to win the BMW PGA at Wentworth which gets lip service over here, but is the equivalent of the Players Championship. He becomes world #1... He goes on to win the Scottish Open (63 final round) up at Castle Stuart then comes to the final event of the PGA tour schedule and beats a red hot Webb Simpson at the Children's Miracle Classic at Disney, with a 30 on that back nine to win the PGA money title, a first for a European.
In November as he waits for the arrival of their second child, Sophie Ann he is dealt a personal tragedy with the sudden passing of his beloved father Colin, he is off for 5 weeks in all and arrives this week, needing to finish in the top nine to win the Race to Dubai despite Rory's efforts with his win last week in Hong Kong.
What does Luke do after a so so opening round of 72. He birdies the last 3 holes on Friday to get to -4 then posts back to back 66's on the weekend, while a spent and ailing Rory McIlroy fades to T11 after back to back 71's.
This quiet Englishman has the heart of a lion and has displayed the tenacity that sets the standard for anyone to follow that is trying to duplicate this historic feat. Coping with your golf game is one thing, managing the travel, time changes, diet, fatigue, illness not to mention loneliness travelling the world as both tours demand you do, makes this a remarkable feat despite the fact they travel and live in first class fashion.
Still, even this morning on the much lauded Morning Drive GC show I hear co- host Erik Kuselias going right down the "but he hasn't won a major" road, all to familiar over here, to which Luke replies. "The critics will always be there and they make me stronger to be honest. Every time someone says I can't do a thing it just makes me work harder"
Harder ??!! 1st in stroke average, driving accuracy, GIR, putts per GIR, 3rd in sand saves, 4th in 1 putts, 10 top 10's in 13 events including 3 wins on the Euro tour schedule including the majors ( 4th at Masters, 8th at PGA ) and WGC events and the Money title..
1st in stroke average on the PGA tour (majors included) 14 top 10's in 19 starts, 2 wins and the Money title..
Lord only knows what he will do when he tries harder in 2012..
Thanks for a gutsy, great great season Luke Donald, you are a joy to watch with that classic beautifully balanced swing, radar like irons, superb touch and oh yes you are the best putter in golf right now. I doubt what you have accomplished will be matched in my lifetime, I glad I was around to cover you every week.
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
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