Story highlights
England's Luke Donald has finished top of the PGA Tour money list
The world No.1 won final counting event in Florida to claim the honor
Donald overhauled Webb Simpson with his two-shot triumph on Sunday after a final round 64
The Briton is aiming to become first player to top the PGA and European Tour money lists
World number one Luke Donald overhauled American Webb Simpson to finish top of the PGA Tour money list after clinching the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic Sunday.
A stunning final round 64, including six consecutive birdies on the back nine, was enough for Donald, 33, to finish 17-under-par for the tournament, two-shots clear of Justin Leonard in second.
It was the Englishman’s second win of the season on the PGA Tour and his 14th top-10 finish.
Donald, who has two wins on the European Tour, is bidding to become the first golfer to finish top of both the European and PGA Tour money lists in the same season.
“Obviously I came here and I told you guys on Wednesday that the goal was to win,” Donald, who pocketed $846,000 for his triumph to take his year-to-date earnings to $6,683,214, told the PGA Tour’s official website.
“Nothing was really going to be good enough other than that. I think this is probably one of the most satisfying wins of my career just because of that. It was kind of do or die.”
Donald faced a nervous wait to see whether overnight co-leader Leonard could usurp him at the top of the leaderboard, but when the American found a bunker on the final hole his victory was confirmed.
Simpson, who held a $363,029 lead over Donald heading into the Walt Disney World Resort tournament, finish four shots adrift of Donald in a five-way tie for sixth position.
“This is one of the most satisfying wins of my career,” said Donald. “Everything was on the line, I’m thrilled and over the moon.
“Having this amount on the line this week and coming up and shooting 30 on the back nine on Sunday, finding the shots when I needed to, you know, really will mean a lot to me and to all the people that I work with.”
World No. 10 Simpson praised the performance of his rival, admitting the week had been a tiring experience.
“We both kind of had our moments playing great golf this week,” said Simpson, 26. “He did his at the end when it counts. We had a blast out there.
“Kind of a tiring week playing together every day and thinking about all that’s going on. I’m glad it’s over. He played great.”
Behind Leonard was a three-way tie for third position, with American duo Tom Pernice Jr. and Kevin Chappell finishing level with South Korean Sunghoon Kang on 14-under.
Alongside Simpson in sixth position was 2008 Masters champion Trevor Immelman, Australian Nick O’Hern and Americans John Rollins and Billy Mayfair.
Donald currently heads the European Tour money list by over $2.2 million from U.S. Open winner Rory McIlroy in second and Masters champion Charl Schwartzel in third, with only eight tournaments remaining.
However, the Briton is planning to miss a number of events when his wife gives birth to their second child sometime in the next fortnight.
