Luke Donald, pictured here after his win earlier this season at the BMW PGA Championship, is No. 1 on both the PGA and European TOUR money lists for 2011.Luke Donald, pictured here after his win earlier this season at the BMW PGA Championship, is No. 1 on both the PGA and European TOUR money lists for 2011.

Luke Donald Is First to Win PGA and European Tour Money Titles in Same Year

Dec. 11, 2011

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Northwestern graduate Luke Donald made history Sunday by becoming the first golfer in history to win both the PGA and European money titles in the same season. Donald carded his second-straight 6-under 66 at the Dubai World Championship to finish third in the tournament and out-pace Rory McIlroy for the crown.

Donald entered the tournament needing to finish better than ninth or hope that McIlroy did not win the event if Donald failed to place high enough. In the end, Donald secured third place while McIlroy struggled to an 11th-place finish.

"It's something that I didn't think was possible," Donald said. "I played extremely solid, consistent golf all year winning four times and playing right at the right moments. I think it is testament to my hard work and it's nice to see it paying off."

Donald started slowly in Dubai, possibly still showing signs of rust after spending five weeks away from the game for the birth of his second daughter. Donald finished the first day at the Dubai tournament in 26th place, after carding three bogeys on the back nine. But starting with the second round on Friday, he climbed up the leaderboard. He strung together three birdies in a row on the second day to reach 12th as his short game improved. Then, he had two stellar rounds of 6-under 66 to challenge for the lead.

"What a three-way finish there and an exciting way for the tournament to end," Donald said. "I had so many mixed emotions but just tried to finish strong and three birdies was a nice way to finish the year."

Donald, the 1999 NCAA Champion for Northwestern who still employs NU Director of Golf Pat Goss as his swing coach, finished his incredible 2011 season with wins at the WGC-Match Play Championship, the BMW PGA Championship, the Barclay's Scottish Open and the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Classic. He attained the No. 1 world ranking in May and has only distanced himself from the No. 2 spot after that.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this release.

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