Associated Press
The golf roundup …
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. ó Already No. 1 in the world, Luke Donald left little doubt who was No. 1 on the PGA Tour.
Believing his only chance to capture the PGA Tour money title was to win at Disney, Donald ran off six straight birdies on the back nine Sunday and closed with an 8-under 64 to come from five shots off the lead and win the Childrenís Miracle Network Classic.
Donald, who trailed Webb Simpson by $363,029 coming into the finale, was two behind Simpson at the turn. Then came a performance that ranks among Donaldís best, even in his greatest season of golf.
He holed four straight birdie putts inside 8 feet, took the lead with an 18-foot birdie on the par-5 14th hole, then sealed his stunning rally with a 45-foot birdie on the 15th hole.
It was his second PGA Tour win of the year. Donald also won the Vardon Trophy for the lowest adjusted scoring average. With no one else winning more than twice this year, the Englishman established himself as a heavy favorite to be PGA Tour player of the year.
Equally important, he kept alive his bid to become the first player to win the money title on the PGA Tour and European Tour in the same season. His lead in Europe is just over $1.8 million over Rory McIlroy with five tournaments remaining.
Donald wound up with a two-shot win over Justin Leonard, who finished with a 71.