Donald’s bid for money-list title no Mickey Mouse affair

IN a tournament played at the Disney World resort there was no way England’s world No 1 golfer was going to allow the headline “Donald Ducks Challenge” to be written.

So, after originally planning a week off, Luke Donald is in Florida and battling with Webb Simpson to decide which of them will be the PGA Tour’s leading money-winner this season. They have been paired together in the first two rounds of the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic today and tomorrow. “There was never really a decision to be made – I have a chance of making history,” said Donald.

In Europe, Donald is more than £1 million ahead of Rory McIlroy, but in America Simpson’s second-place finish in Georgia last Sunday took him £229,000 in front. As a consequence Donald has to be in the top two on Sunday. If he wins Simpson would have to be runner-up on his own to claim the crown, while if Donald is solo second or in a two-way tie Simpson would miss out if he is lower than eighth or 21st respectively.