Golf: Mixed emotions as Luke Donald clinches a unique double and collects £8 million

When Rory McIlroy failed to win the Dubai World Championship – he finished “only” joint 11th – Donald knew he had added the European Tour money-list title to the PGA Tour crown in America.

Coming little more than a month since his father died suddenly, Donald did well to hold himself together over the closing holes knowing what he had achieved. The 34-year-old even birdied the last three for a second successive 66 and took third place in the tournament, one behind Paul Lawrie and three behind Alvaro Quiros. Only when being interviewed afterwards did the tears well up as he was asked what his father would have thought and done.

“He would have been very proud and he would just give me a big hug,” he said. “My father hopped into my head quite a few times. I didn’t really look at a leaderboard until the 13th, but didn’t see Rory’s name and so knew it was mine.

“I had so many mixed emotions. This is something I didn’t think possible, but it became a possibility midway through the season. It’s driven me to work hard and be as successful as I’ve been. Rory made it tough, but for it actually to happen is almost a weight off my shoulders. History is why we play the game and I’m very proud of it.”

McIlroy had conceded defeat after a third-round 71 left him in eighth spot, but Donald added: “I was still nervous this morning. It was important to get off to a good start and I did.”

He birdied three of the first seven holes and his closing hat-trick meant he played the last 46 holes without a single bogey despite the pressure.

It was his 20th top-10 finish in 26 starts this year, four of them victories. “I’ve played extremely solid, consistent golf all year and it’s down to a good work ethic and good people around me pushing me hard,” he added. “I hope it will help me in my quest for a major. It feels amazing and it’s my greatest year for sure. I feel I’ve a lot to achieve, but this is something I will never forget.”

McIlroy, who finished with another 71, has pulled out of this week’s event in Thailand and on doctor’s advice will stay in Dubai for a few days’ rest.

He has been suffering from a virus and was even told it might be Dengue fever, so is looking forward to putting his clubs away until just before the Abu Dhabi Championship – Tiger Woods as well as Donald will be there too - on January 20-23. “I think this week was one too many,” he said, referring to a hectic recent schedule including three trips to Asia and one to Bermuda. “But Luke deserves it. Every time he’s teed it up he’s had a chance or he’s finished in the top five or top 10.

“But I’ve made great progress this year – with my game, with my results, with everything. I feel I’m swinging the club as good as I ever have and I feel like my body is as strong as it’s ever been.

“I’ve won my first major and my goals are just to win tournaments and try to become a multiple-major champion.”