That was the week that was for Luke Donald as he atones in Madrid

His triumph at the Real Sociedad club makes it an incredible four English players in the world's top nine just nine years after Lee Westwood was the only one in the top 100.

Donald, who blew the BMW PGA Championship by taking a double bogey 7 on the penultimate hole, this time grabbed a brilliant eagle to settle his duel with Welshman Rhys Davies.

Out in 33 – he had four birdies and a bogey – Donald had stood 19 under par, with Davies 18 under after birdies at the second and fourth.

Later on in the round, just as Davies birdied from four feet at the 15th, Francesco Molinari eagled the long 16th for the second time in the week – and with that a three-way tie on 19 under was created.

Donald's response was brilliant, though. He also eagled the 16th, but his lead was only one as Davies birdied.

Level with three to play, the 32-year-old hit a 252-yard fairway wood to 12 feet on the long 16th and with his third eagle of the week – "it's because I'm a big-hitter" he joked – struck the decisive blow.

Two closing pars by the pair saw Donald edge home for his first victory since winning the 2006 Honda Classic on the US PGA Tour, as a career-threatening wrist injury in 2008 restricted his chances.

"That was a huge eagle to make," Donald said. "Rhys put a lot of pressure on me, playing very solid all day and never backing off. It's both happiness and relief for me."

Davies, already a winner in this his first full season on the European Tour, birdied the 17th hole and still had a chance to force sudden death, but his 20-foot effort on the last was never on the right line.

Earlier, Spaniard Jose Manuel Lara had threatened to produce the European Tour's first 59 when he stood nine under for the day with six to play, but he bogeyed the next and by parring in from there had to settle for a course record-equalling 64.

The victory lifts Donald from 13th to ninth in the world – and to fourth place in the Ryder Cup points race, knocking Padraig Harrington out of the top nine who will earn automatic spots at the end of August.

His last victory was the Honda Classic in America in March 2006 and his last in Europe came in Switzerland in September 2004.

Donald won with a closing 67 to Davies's 68 and with a 21-under-par total of 267.

It earned him 214,242, but he said: "The money is secondary. It's been a while since I won and to put last week behind me makes me very proud."

After last year's Open, where he came fifth, an American writer coined the term "Luke Donald Disease", pointing to him as the perfect example of a bunch of British players who earn a lot but do not win very often.

"It was a bad article – it's wrong," commented Donald. "I don't listen to my critics too much, but it was frustrating for myself not having won for four years."

He can now point to the fact that England has as many players in the top ten – himself, Westwood, Ian Poulter and Paul Casey – as the United States does. And there is also Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy in there too.

Davies, who turned 25 last Friday, would have leapt into the top 50 with victory, but he is climbing up the rankings fast and he will hope to go one better at this coming week's Wales Open at Celtic Manor.

"I didn't make a bogey in the final group in a big tournament," Davies said.

"It didn't quite come off, but I've got lots to be pleased about. I was chasing the win and I just came up short unfortunately. On the 16th I thought I might keep the momentum (he had just birdied the 15th to level), but he threw in an eagle to be fair to him."

Italian Molinari's efforts have moved him into one of the five Ryder Cup spots on offer from European Tour earnings, leaving world No8 Casey in need of a wild card as things stand.

A further shot back in fourth place in Madrid yesterday was Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell, who closed with four pars for a 65 to finish on 17 under.