Tall order for Donald in Florida

WORLD No 1 Luke Donald will need to finish first or second in this week’s final PGA Tour event in Florida to keep alive his dream of becoming the first player to top the money lists on both sides of the Atlantic in the same season.

Webb Simpson now leads the race in America by more than £363,000 (£229,000) after finishing runner-up at the McGladrey Classic in Georgia on Sunday. Yet it could have been worse for Donald. Simpson missed a putt of under four feet to lose to Ben Crane on the second play-off hole.

“Finishing second is going to make it a lot harder for Luke,” said the 26-year-old Simpson, who is in only his third full season as a professional.

“But I’m sure he’s going to play well. He’s played well almost every week this year. I still wouldn’t be surprised if I have a little work to do. He’s had a week off, so I’m sure he’s rested and ready. It would be nice to run away with it, but it wouldn’t surprise me if it’s going to be pretty close.”

The final PGA Tour event is the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic in Florida, starting on Thursday.

Donald is over £1 million ahead of second-placed Rory McIlroy on Europe’s Race to Dubai, but that battle still has two months to run.

Crane, meanwhile, was clinching his fourth PGA Tour title by beating Simpson. He narrowly missed a 22-foot birdie putt at the second extra hole but moments later sealed victory when Simpson lipped out with his four-foot par putt.

The duo had finished the 72 regulation holes at 15-under-par 265, Simpson closing with a four-under 66 and Crane firing an eight-birdie 63. Overnight leader Michael Thompson had to settle for third on 14 under.