Costa del Sol Golf

Seven days after his agony at Wentworth it was ecstasy for Luke Donald as he ended four years without a win at the Madrid Masters.

And that 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 seven on the penultimate hole, this time grabbed a brilliant eagle to settle his duel with Welshman .

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.

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

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.

“The way I played today means a lot to me. The eagle was huge because Rhys put a lot of pressure on me.

“It’s happiness and relief - definitely some relief.”

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 10 - himself, Westwood, Ian Poulter and Paul Casey - as America does.

And there is also Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy there too.

Davies, 25 last Friday, would have leapt into the top 50 with victory, but he is climbing 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 Francesco Molinari had also eagled the 16th to be in the joint lead, but that was before Donald and Davies played the hole and he finished third on 18 under.

A further shot back in fourth was Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell, whose 65 was one outside the course record equalled earlier in the day by Spaniard Jose Manuel Lara.

Collated final round scores & totals in the European Tour Madrid Masters, Real Sociedad Hipica Espanola Club de Campo, Madrid, Spain

(Gbr & Irl unless stated, par 72):

267 Luke Donald 65 67 68 67

268 Rhys Davies 65 68 67 68

270 Francesco Molinari (Ita) 67 70 65 68

271 Graeme McDowell 68 68 70 65

273 Robert Rock 70 68 67 68

275 Stephen Gallacher 69 73 66 67, Jamie Donaldson 65 70 70 70, Peter Lawrie 71 69 68 67

276 Oliver Wilson 70 71 70 65

277 Robert Jan Derksen (Ned) 71 71 67 68, Brett Rumford (Aus) 67 71 71 68, Fabrizio Zanotti (Par) 71 72 65 69, Simon Dyson 70 69 70 68, Alvaro Quiros (Spa) 69 70 64 74, Gregory Havret (Fra) 68 74 69 66

278 Jarmo Sandelin (Swe) 67 70 70 71, Niclas Fasth (Swe) 67 71 70 70, Richard Finch 68 71 69 70, Julien Quesne (Fra) 72 69 71 66, Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 69 70 68 71

279 Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra) 73 68 68 70, Thomas Aiken (Rsa) 68 73 68 70, Nick Dougherty 69 70 70 70, Markus Brier (Aut) 68 75 68 68, Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa) 68 73 70 68, Graeme Storm 73 64 67 75, Jose Manuel Lara (Spa) 70 72 73 64

280 Gary Orr 73 67 71 69, Joost Luiten (Ned) 70 69 74 67, Martin Kaymer (Ger) 71 70 71 68, David Lynn 72 70 68 70, Clodomiro Carranza (Arg) 73 67 70 70, Ignacio Garrido (Spa) 71 67 72 70, Benjamin Hebert (Fra) 68 70 72 70, Marcus Fraser (Aus) 71 70 70 69

281 Felipe Aguilar (Chi) 75 67 71 68, Damien McGrane 69 73 67 72, Christian Nilsson (Swe) 69 70 70 72, Alastair Forsyth 74 69 71 67, Edoardo Molinari (Ita) 72 71 69 69

282 Peter Whiteford 73 70 66 73, Shane Lowry 69 74 70 69, Santiago Luna (Spa) 69 71 74 68, Emanuele Canonica (Ita) 69 72 69 72, Paul McGinley 66 74 70 72, Johan Edfors (Swe) 67 73 71 71

283 Richard Green (Aus) 71 67 74 71, Oskar Henningsson (Swe) 70 71 69 73, Peter Hedblom (Swe) 72 71 71 69

284 Carl Suneson (Spa) 69 73 71 71, Eirik Tage Johansen (Nor) 68 74 72 70

285 Danny Lee (Nzl) 69 74 68 74, Gary Boyd 73 68 74 70, Phillip Price 67 74 71 73, Tano Goya (Arg) 69 72 67 77, Gonzalo Fdez-Castano (Spa) 75 67 67 76, Oliver Fisher 70 72 73 70, Pablo Larrazabal (Spa) 70 72 74 69, Ross McGowan 68 74 74 69

286 Gary Clark 71 71 73 71, Sion E Bebb 70 71 72 73, Bradley Dredge 67 73 72 74

287 John Parry 72 70 73 72, Maarten Lafeber (Ned) 66 76 73 72

288 Sam Hutsby 73 69 70 76, Paul Lawrie 73 70 69 76

289 James Kingston (Rsa) 68 71 76 74

290 Julien Guerrier (Fra) 68 74 71 77, James Morrison 70 70 76 74

291 Jorge Campillo (Spa) 72 70 75 74

292 Alvaro Salto (Spa) 74 68 72 78, David Drysdale 69 74 74 75, Stephen Dodd 69 74 75 74

294 Kenneth Ferrie 73 70 70 81

295 Marc Warren 70 71 81 73, Rick Kulacz (Aus) 72 71 78 74

296 Marcel Siem (Ger) 72 71 76 77

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Luke Donald remains on course to make it an amazing four English golfers in the world’s top 10, nine years after they had only Lee Westwood in the top 100.

But whether Donald can do it in the way he wants, by winning the Madrid Masters, remains to be seen after European Tour rookie Rhys Davies birdied two of the last three holes to join him on 16 under par with a round to go.

Even with a second-place finish at the Real Sociedad course Donald, currently ranked 13th, will join Westwood, Ian Poulter and Paul Casey in the world’s top 10.

But after what happened at Wentworth last Sunday, victory is all that is on his mind.

The 32-year-old, who lost the BMW PGA Championship by one after taking seven at the penultimate hole, fired a bogey-free 68.

However, Welshman Davies, already a winner in Morocco in his first full season on the circuit, holed from eight feet at the long 16th and then from 12 on the 198-yard 17th for a 67.

His round included eight birdies, but also a bogey at the third and double bogey on the short seventh.

Donald, who led by one at halfway, said: “To rebound from the disappointment of last week and be in contention shows a lot about my character.

“I was struggling a bit off the tee on the back side. Not to have a bogey was good, but it would have been nice to make a couple more birdies.”

Davies said: “I made two little errors, very minor, and got severely punished for both.

“It was annoying at the time, but I focused on keeping my head in the right position and took on the shots I felt like I needed to.

“Saturday is a little bit different because there is still a long way to go.”

Donald’s last title was the US Tour’s Honda Classic four years ago and for his last win in Europe you have to go back to the 2004 European Masters in Switzerland.

The world ranking points on offer mean that Donald will go fourth in the Ryder Cup table by ending his barren spell, a move that would knock Padraig Harrington out of an automatic spot.

Italian Francesco Molinari is two strokes back in third place after a 65 highlighted by five birdies in the opening seven holes and then a fairway wood to six feet for eagle at the 562-yard 16th.

Big-hitting Alvaro Quiros moved into fourth place with a course record-equalling 64 that almost came out of nowhere.

He was “only” four under for the day with three to play, but two-putted the 16th, made a 15-footer on the next and then pitched in from 58 yards for a closing eagle two.

It gives the 27-year-old the chance of a second victory on home soil this month. He started May by capturing the Spanish Open in a play-off with England’s James Morrison.

England’s Graeme Storm, the man who set the course record the day before, followed up with a 67 and is fifth.

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Colin Montgomerie has set himself the target of winning a tournament before captaining Europe at this year’s Ryder Cup.

Montgomerie has not won an individual event since July 2007 and has slumped to 287th in the world rankings, but the 46-year-old Scot is determined to get back to winning ways.

“I haven’t really performed this last year,” admitted Montgomerie.

“I went out to Houston to see my coach from when I was at university there, Paul Marchand, on the way over here and worked out a number of issues within the swing and the way that I was thinking around the golf course.

“And I’ve practised well here so I look forward to not just competing here, but to contending here and then move forward from then on.

“I have a goal that I would love to win before the Ryder Cup starts. I’d like to stand in front of my team at the opening ceremony as a tournament winner myself this year.

“It has been difficult time-wise to fit everything in, to try and concentrate on playing at a certain level at the same time as all of the administration and all of the time consumed in organising and in being the host Ryder Cup captain.

“There’s an awful lot more to do being the host than there is being the away captain so it has been very busy, but it’s been exciting at the same time.”

Montgomerie can at least be confident in the likely strength of his side at Celtic Manor from October 1-3 as Europe attempt to regain the trophy lost at Valhalla in 2008.

Europe have five players currently in the world’s top 10 - Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Paul Casey, Martin Kaymer and Padraig Harrington - with Rory McIlroy, Henrik Stenson, Sergio Garcia and Luke Donald inside the top 20.

“Although we don’t have the top three in the world, we have the rest,” added Montgomerie, who will add three wild cards to the nine automatic qualifiers for his team.

“It’s the first time that a captain of the Ryder Cup team can say that. I think it’s (down to) that they are all competing against each other.

“I think competition improves standards, in all businesses, and I think they compete against each other. Paul Casey wants to beat Ian Poulter, Ian Poulter wants to beat Harrington and Harrington wants to beat Garcia and Kaymer and everyone around there.”

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A third-round 67 gave Jim Furyk a three-shot lead at the Transitions Championship in Florida.

The USA player went round in four-under-par to move to 11-under for the tournament at the Copperhead course in Palm Harbour.

He picked up birdies at the first, 11th, 12th and 15th holes as he added to his earlier rounds of 67 and 68.

South Korea’s KJ Choi, South African Retief Goosen, American Bubba Watson and Swede Carl Pettersson were in a four-way tie for second on eight-under.

Choi also fired a 67, while the other three had to make do with rounds of 70.

England’s Luke Donald was another to go round in 67 as he moved to seven-under overall, level with Jeff Maggert of the USA and Ireland’s Padraig Harrington.

It would have been even better for Donald, who picked up six birdies, had he not bogeyed the 18th.

Harrington, who began the day top of the leaderboard, had a disappointing day as his one-over 72 dropped him down the field.

Justin Rose also shot a 67 to sit five-under overall.

Third-round collated scores (USA unless stated, par 71):

202 Jim Furyk 67 68 67

205 Retief Goosen (Rsa) 67 68 70, K J Choi (Kor) 69 69 67, Bubba Watson 70 65 70, Carl Pettersson (Swe) 67 68 70

206 Jeff Maggert 67 69 70, Luke Donald (Eng) 71 68 67, Padraig Harrington (Irl) 69 65 72

207 Steve Stricker 70 66 71, John Senden (Aus) 69 72 66, Jonathan Byrd 67 70 70, Nick O’Hern (Aus) 72 68 67, Webb Simpson 73 69 65

208 Jerry Kelly 70 70 68, Nick Watney 73 70 65, Justin Rose (Eng) 73 68 67, Rickie Fowler 67 71 70

209 Brett Quigley 70 73 66, Jimmy Walker 70 71 68, Geoff Ogilvy (Aus) 73 71 65

210 Chris DiMarco 71 71 68, David Toms 74 63 73, Greg Chalmers (Aus) 72 71 67, David Duval 72 69 69, Bob Heintz 73 67 70, Stephen Ames (Can) 69 71 70

211 Spencer Levin 69 70 72, Kenny Perry 71 72 68, Jeff Klauk 73 71 67, Justin Leonard 71 68 72, Mathew Goggin (Aus) 70 69 72, Brandt Snedeker 69 69 73

212 Jeff Quinney 68 70 74, Brian Gay 71 70 71, Steve Flesch 70 72 70, Ted Purdy 72 69 71, James Nitties (Aus) 71 73 68, Steve Elkington (Aus) 68 68 76, Alex Cejka (Ger) 69 69 74, Charles Howell III 72 70 70, D.A. Points 70 72 70, Charlie Wi (Kor) 70 72 70, Daniel Chopra (Swe) 72 69 71, Bill Haas 70 71 71, Jason Bohn 75 69 68

213 Ross Fisher (Eng) 68 70 75, Adam Scott (Aus) 73 66 74, Lucas Glover 69 75 69, Derek Lamely 73 68 72, Ricky Barnes 70 72 71, John Daly 70 71 72, Bo Van Pelt 72 71 70, Martin Laird (Sco) 70 70 73

214 Rodney Pampling (Aus) 73 71 70, Jason Dufner 70 74 70, Kevin Sutherland 73 71 70, Tim Wilkinson (Nzl) 73 68 73, Nathan Green (Aus) 73 71 70, Roland Thatcher 70 71 73, Corey Pavin 72 68 74, Nicholas Thompson 70 68 76

215 Brian Davis (Eng) 71 73 71, Brendon De Jonge 72 72 71, Kris Blanks 72 70 73, Scott McCarron 71 72 72, Sergio Garcia (Spa) 73 71 71, Fred Funk 70 73 72, Jason Day (Aus) 72 72 71, J.B. Holmes 68 74 73, Tim Petrovic 72 72 71, Josh Teater 69 73 73

216 Kevin Na 72 70 74, Yuta Ikeda (Jpn) 74 69 73, Steve Lowery 70 72 74, Garrett Willis 65 77 74

217 Will MacKenzie 73 69 75, J J Henry 72 72 73, John Huston 75 68 74, Greg Owen (Eng) 73 70 74

218 John Rollins 73 71 74, Ryan Moore 71 73 74

219 Aaron Baddeley (Aus) 72 71 76, Bob Estes 72 71 76, Trevor Immelman (Rsa) 70 74 75

220 Zach Johnson 73 70 77, Andres Romero (Arg) 74 69 77

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English golf was on the march in Tucson as Luke Donald, Paul Casey, Oliver Wilson and Ian Poulter all reached the last 16 of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship.

Donald had the biggest win, but the best was probably the one achieved by Wilson, who defeated fourth seed Rory McIlroy at the second extra hole.

Late in the second round there was even a chance that second seed Lee Westwood and last man in Ross McGowan would make it six out of six, but Westwood lost 2&1 to American Nick Watney and McGowan, conqueror of top seed Steve Stricker, went down on the last to 18-year-old Japanese star Ryo Ishikawa.

Westwood has still to go beyond this stage in 10 visits to the event and as a result misses the chance to go to world number two for the first time in his career.

Last year’s runner-up Casey, still recovering from the torn rib muscle he suffered last summer after reaching third in the world rankings behind Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, crushed Canadian left-hander Mike Weir 5&4.

But Donald, returning to form following wrist surgery in 2008, went one better than that with a 6&5 drubbing of Australian Robert Allenby.

The 32-year-old, runner-up on the US Tour two weeks ago, had opened with an eight-birdie victory over Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell and commented: “(It was) another solid day.

“Five birdies, no bogeys. I picked off the par-fives and Robert didn’t quite have his game. He didn’t put too much pressure on me.

“I’m drawing on the confidence of the last few weeks. This is my fourth in a row, so to finish as quickly as possible is good for me.”

Donald was inevitably asked about the Tiger Woods situation.

Other players, most notably Ernie Els, have criticised the world number one choosing the middle day of this event tomorrow to make a statement about his future in Florida, but Donald steered clear of the issue.

“I’m not really thinking about it - I’m just concentrating on myself,” said the soon-to-be father.

“Tiger’s not here and it’s irrelevant to waste energy on that. Hopefully the focus can come back to the tournament - I suppose he could have chosen Monday, but he didn’t.”

Casey won the first four holes against Weir, who 24 hours earlier had birdied nine of the first 10 holes against Spaniard Alvaro Quiros.

The former Masters champion failed to reproduce that form and won only one hole in the entire match.

Casey said: “I didn’t see any reason why Mike would struggle, but he did. The start was key - I was very surprised to be four up after four.

“Conserving energy is always a big one. When my legs get tired it affects my swing. Peter Kostis (his American coach) told me to go back to the hotel and relax when I finished yesterday, so I went back and worked out!”

Things were much closer in the all-European duel between 20-year-old McIlroy and Wilson and they went into sudden death when the Northern Ireland star saved himself with an eight-foot putt on the last.

McIlroy, who reached the last eight on his debut 12 months ago, had recovered from four down to beat American Kevin Na on the opening day, but a drive into a bunker at the 20th, followed by a superb chip by Wilson, ended the clash.

The Mansfield golfer, still searching for his first professional victory despite being part of Europe’s last Ryder Cup side, next plays Donald - his third European opponent in a row.

Wilson stated: “That’s a strange one, but I’m obviously delighted to be through. It’s mainly relief - that’s a great scalp for me.

“We’re only a small country and to have nine in the field is fantastic - a great achievement.”

Poulter stated: “It’s very pleasing. It was never going to be an easy match - none of these is whether you are the number one seed or the 64th.”

He next takes on Indian Jeev Milkha Singh, while sixth seed Casey is up against little-known American Brian Gay, ranked 54th.

Defending champion Geoff Ogilvy was beaten 2&1 by Colombian Camilo Villegas and third seed Jim Furyk was knocked out by South African Charl Schwartzel, but Sergio Garcia came from behind to defeat Dane Anders Hansen.

The duel between the two South Africans was settled at the long 20th when Goosen fired in a superb 224-yard approach to within four feet of the flag and Els, short left and then in a greenside bunker, conceded.

Collated results (USA unless stated, seeded positions in brackets, (x) denotes amateurs):

(12) Robert Allenby (Aus) lost to (21) Luke Donald (Gbr) 6 & 5

(6) Paul Casey (Gbr) bt (38) Mike Weir (Can) 5 & 4

(5) Rory McIlroy (Gbr) lost to (37) Oliver Wilson (Gbr) at 20th

(54) Brian Gay (USA) bt (22) Zach Johnson (USA) 2 holesa

(58) Ben Crane (USA) bt (26) YE Yang (Kor) 3 & 2

(57) Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) bt (40) Matt Kuchar (USA) 1 hole

(9) Ian Poulter (Gbr) bt (41) Adam Scott (Aus) 2 & 1

(10) Geoff Ogilvy (Aus) lost to (23) Camilo Villegas (Col) 2 & 1

(4) Martin Kaymer (Ger) lost to (36) Tim Clark (Rsa) 3 & 2

(13) Sergio Garcia (Spa) bt (45) Anders Hansen (Den) 2 & 1

(3) Jim Furyk (USA) lost to (35) Charl Schwartzel (Rsa) 3 & 2

(16) Robert Karlsson (Swe) lost to (48) Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 4 & 3

(14) Sean O’Hair (USA) lost to (19) Stewart Cink (USA) 1 hole

(64) Ross McGowan (Gbr) lost to (32) Ryo Ishikawa (Jpn) 1 hole

(2) Lee Westwood (Gbr) lost to(31) Nick Watney (USA) 2 & 1

(15) Ernie Els (Rsa) lost to (18) Retief Goosen (Rsa) at 20th

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Steve Stricker overcame an early stumble and a late charge from Britain’s Luke Donald to win the Northern Trust Open Sunday and wrest the world number two ranking from fellow American Phil Mickelson.

Stricker, who blew chances to win last year’s tournament when he bogeyed his last hole to go into a losing playoff against Mickelson, shot a one-under 70 for a 16-under total of 268 to finish two strokes above Donald.

The win, Stricker’s eighth tour victory, gave the American a $1.15 million (736,000 pound) winner’s cheque and a chance to shoot for the top ranking in the absence of Tiger Woods, who has taken an indefinite break from the tour in the wake of revelations about his marital infidelities.

“I think if I would have set this goal back about six years ago, if I would have told anybody they would have said you’re crazy,” Stricker, who would need at least two more victories to displace Woods, told reporters.

“But I put a lot of hard work into it. It just means a lot.”

Stricker had to return to the course early Sunday to finish his third round which had been suspended due to bad light. He had a five-stroke lead with four holes remaining and extended it to six going into the final round.

Although the lead looked insurmountable, Stricker stumbled early on and Donald, who has posted top 10 finishes in the past two years here, took advantage.

The Briton two-putted from 28 feet for birdie on the par five first hole and then made an 11-footer on the third to cut the lead to four.

Stricker missed a five-foot putt to save par on the following hole and Donald reduced the lead to two when he made a six-foot birdie on the fifth.

Stricker rallied, however, with a run of birdies starting on the eighth. He drained a nine-foot birdie on the ninth then extended his lead to three after a 12-foot birdie on the 11th.

Dustin Johnson, who finished a stroke behind Donald with fellow American J.B. Holmes, also threatened with a run of four birdies in five holes but Stricker held on for victory.

The American missed a gettable birdie on the 17th last year before his final hole meltdown led to a galling loss to Mickelson.

“You put them in your memory bank, I guess,” he said. “You look back at them and make sure that you try not to do the same things.”

Having struggled off the tee and on the fairway, Stricker’s putting and short game saved him when he appeared on the verge of being overhauled. The American bogeyed the 12th, but grinded out six consecutive pars to close out the win.

He had 104 putts to finish first for the tournament and tied for first in sand saves.

“I knew some good things were happening throughout the week,” Stricker said.

“I didn’t know I was going to win the tournament, but some kind of magical things were happening along the way.”

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Steve Stricker was forced to hold on for victory at the Northern Trust Open after Luke Donald shot a final-round 66.

American Stricker claimed a two-shot win over the Englishman with a one-under-par 70 at the Riviera Country Club and has now climbed to the world number two ranking at the expense of two-time defending champion Phil Mickelson.

The left-hander needed a top-six finish to keep the rank but could only manage a tie for 45th after a closing 73.

The victory for Stricker continued a remarkable turnaround after he lost his PGA Tour card in 2004. He won the tour’s Comeback Player of the Year award in 2006 and 2007, won three titles in 2009 and after three tournaments this year has yet to shoot over par.

“It feels great, this means a lot,” an emotional Stricker told NBC Sports. “I remember where I was and look at where I am now, it doesn’t get any better and I really appreciate it.”

Stricker had taken a six-stroke lead into the final round near Los Angeles and, 12 months after losing a two-shot lead in the same tournament to Phil Mickelson, a nervy start in Pacific Palisades saw Donald cut the lead to two after just five holes.

Birdies at the eighth and ninth put Stricker back on the right track before both he and his rival birdied the 11th and then bogeyed the 12th, Donald’s first dropped shot in 34 holes.

Donald increased the pressure a little more with a birdie at 13 and further still with a four at the par-five 17th to cut the lead to two, but Stricker held his nerve to par the 72nd hole for victory, the Englishman also parring for his third consecutive top-10 finish at Riviera.

“It was hard,” Stricker added. “I aged a lot out there today and it was a grind from the get-go.”

Halfway leader Dustin Johnson also shot a 66 to claim a tie for third place at 13 under with fellow American JB Holmes, who carded a 67.

Newly-appointed US Ryder Cup vice-captain Paul Goydos shot a 65 to claim a share of fifth place alongside compatriots Steve Marino and George McNeill, as well as Argentina’s Andres Romero.

Closing rounds of 73 and 72 saw England’s Justin Rose slip down the leaderboard to three under par and a tie for 37th, while a closing 73 sent countryman Brian Davis to one under and Scotland’s Martin Laird wrapped things up with a 72 to finish at one over par.

Collated final round scores & totals in the USPGA Tour Northern Trust Open, Riviera CC, Pacific Palisades, California, United States of America

(USA unless stated, par 71):

268 Steve Stricker 67 65 66 70

270 Luke Donald (Eng) 68 70 66 66

271 Dustin Johnson 64 67 74 66, J.B. Holmes 68 69 67 67

274 George McNeill 70 69 66 69, Steve Marino 70 67 69 68, Paul Goydos 69 72 68 65, Andres Romero (Arg) 65 69 70 70

275 Ricky Barnes 66 71 69 69

276 Kevin Na 72 67 71 66, Kevin Stadler 65 71 69 71, Ernie Els (Rsa) 68 70 70 68, Jason Bohn 69 75 67 65, Alex Prugh 71 69 66 70

277 Marc Leishman (Aus) 71 71 70 65, Ryuji Imada (Jpn) 73 68 68 68, Bo Van Pelt 70 70 69 68, Webb Simpson 70 73 69 65, Y.E. Yang (Kor) 71 70 68 68

278 Charlie Wi (Kor) 72 68 69 69, Jim Furyk 71 70 68 69, Matt Kuchar 69 71 72 66, Kevin Sutherland 69 71 68 70, Scott Verplank 68 74 65 71, Brandt Snedeker 66 72 69 71, Tim Wilkinson (Nzl) 69 67 71 71

279 Rodney Pampling (Aus) 70 70 73 66, John Rollins 71 71 67 70, Michael Allen 69 70 71 69, Robert Allenby (Aus) 72 69 70 68, K J Choi (Kor) 71 72 71 65

280 Michael Letzig 71 72 68 69, Ryo Ishikawa (Jpn) 68 68 72 72, Stewart Cink 71 71 67 71, Bryce Molder 71 68 71 70, Tim Clark (Rsa) 69 72 71 68

281 Charley Hoffman 68 71 70 72, Woody Austin 71 72 70 68, Fred Couples 69 72 72 68, Chad Campbell 70 72 71 68, Justin Rose (Eng) 69 67 73 72, Jimmy Walker 71 72 71 67, Troy Matteson 68 69 74 70, Jonathan Byrd 68 74 71 68

282 Phil Mickelson 72 66 71 73, Rich Beem 74 69 68 71

283 Brian Davis (Eng) 72 70 68 73, Vaughn Taylor 73 70 72 68, Matt Bettencourt 70 74 72 67, Briny Baird 70 72 69 72, D.J. Trahan 72 71 72 68

284 D.A. Points 69 72 70 73, Anthony Kim 71 66 69 78

285 Aaron Baddeley (Aus) 72 72 70 71, Brett Quigley 70 73 72 70, John Merrick 70 72 68 75, Roland Thatcher 68 73 74 70, Martin Laird (Sco) 72 72 69 72, Brenden Pappas (Rsa) 71 68 72 74, Mark Wilson 72 72 72 69

286 Justin Leonard 71 73 71 71, J J Henry 70 73 71 72, Jeff Overton 70 71 71 74, Greg Chalmers (Aus) 71 73 70 72, Ben Curtis 73 68 75 70, Angel Cabrera (Arg) 71 73 71 71, Stuart Appleby (Aus) 71 71 71 73

287 Nicholas Thompson 69 73 74 71

289 Steve Flesch 73 70 73 73, Craig Bowden 69 74 73 73

292 Parker McLachlin 71 73 72 76

294 Kevin Streelman 69 73 74 78

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Steve Stricker moved five shots clear at the rain-hit Northern Trust Open before third round play was suspended due to darkness at Riviera Country Club.

Stricker was four-under par through 14 holes before play was suspended. On a combined 14-under, Stricker leads Luke Donald, JB Holmes and Andres Romero by five shots.

Romero, playing in the same group as Stricker, was 1-under through 14. Donald and Holmes were able to finish their rounds, Donald carding a five-under 66 and Holmes a 67.

Stricker and Romero elected to mark their balls on the 15th green when play was called due to darkness. Stricker had a 37-foot birdie putt and Romero was just off the back of the green.

“It was a good day,” Stricker said. “I don’t know what kind of lead I have, but I still have to come out and play my own game and make sure that I do the things that I’ve been doing the previous three days.”

Fifteen golfers will return early on Sunday to complete their round before the final 18 holes gets underway.

“It’s not a huge advantage just because we’re all going to be back out here early (Sunday) anyways,” Stricker said. “I would have loved to have finished though, it’s going to be a long day.”

Donald and Holmes have the luxury of sleeping in, having completed their rounds, though they both know they will have to make up ground quickly to pressure Stricker.

“I’m sure (Stricker) will play a solid round,” Donald said. “I would have thought I’d need to shoot something very low to have any chance, but again I’ll be trying to play the course more than anything.”

Saturday began with 41 players finishing their second round, though the start was delayed for 90 minutes because of rain.

One of those who had to finish his second round was Dustin Johnson, who had a chip-in birdie at the 18th to claim the second round lead at 11-under par.

However, after a birdie on the first, Johnson began to slip down the leaderboard with a double bogey on the third and another dropped shot at the next hole. He had a birdie on the 10th but it was sandwiched between two more bogeys to leave him three over for the round.

Stricker was quick to take advantage with birdies on the first, sixth, eighth and 10th to open up the five-stroke lead.

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Simon Dyson finally leapt into the big time on the European Tour - and did it with the round of his life.

After two wins in Holland and one in Indonesia since he turned professional a decade ago, the 31-year-old’s superb closing 66 swept him to victory in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews.

Full of jealousy when his great friend Nick Dougherty took the same title two years ago, Dyson collected the £485,850 first prize by three strokes from Rory McIlroy and Oliver Wilson.

It takes the York golfer, who magically birdied six of the first seven holes, top of Europe’s Ryder Cup points table, into the top 10 on this season’s money list and into the world’s top 50 for the first time. He began the week 92nd.

In August his second Dutch win came with a course-record closing 63 but, after taking charge with his blistering start and then carefully avoiding disaster, Dyson revised his opinion about the best round of his career.

“There’s no way this can’t be it,” he said. “This is like our fifth major, a massive tournament at the home of golf, and I’ve shot 66 to win it.

“I’m absolutely buzzing. Darren Clarke has just said to me, ‘Take your time and enjoy it - it does not get any better than winning at St Andrews’.

“My parents always come up (to the tournament) but couldn’t make it this year. They’re never coming back!”

For Wilson, it was an eighth runners-up finish on the circuit with not one victory to his name as yet but he could not feel disappointed about this one as he shot 65 after starting the day 14th.

McIlroy, only one behind Luke Donald overnight, had dearly wanted to win playing alongside his father on his 50th birthday in the celebrity pro-am but he managed “only” a 69.

That was still good enough to take the 20-year-old above injured pair Martin Kaymer and Paul Casey into top spot on the ‘Race to Dubai’ standings but he knew the day belonged to Dyson.

The former Walker Cup player - he was a team-mate of Casey and Donald at Nairn in 1999 - admits he is a lot more dedicated to his golf than once was the case - not that he regrets enjoying himself on Tour as much as he did in his younger days.

“I might have done better but I don’t regret one thing that I’ve done,” Dyson continued. “You’re travelling the world and you’ve got to enjoy yourself.

“I’ve still got a lot of time left in my career hopefully - touch wood. I’ve settled down a lot, I’m the happiest away from the course that I’ve ever been, and what more do you want?”

Dyson knew it could be a special day from his second shot - a pitch to three feet that brought him level with Donald, who with a 73 fell all the way back to seventh and has not won for three-and-a-half years.

By the eighth tee, Dyson was already four clear - and although McIlroy did cut it back to two by turning in 32 to the winner’s 30 that was as close as it got.

Dyson added another birdie on the 12th and could afford to bogey the Road Hole 17th.

McIlroy ruined his chances of winning by bogeying the 12th, 16th and 17th. But his birdie on the last was huge for the money list battle.

Wilson was cursing not finishing one ahead of him, though, after missing a three-foot birdie putt on the last when he was distracted by someone assembling the presentation area behind the green.

“I heard him shaking a can before I went to hit it, but then on my backstroke he shook it as loud as he could,” he said.

“I’m not very happy at the moment. I’d not missed one that short all week, but I guess it’s another lesson.

“I played with Simon last week (at the Vivendi Trophy) and this week (for three rounds), and he has not really missed a shot.

“He’s a great lad, upbeat all the time, and has the perfect attitude for golf.

“He’s also great in the team room, and I’d love to partner him in the Ryder Cup. I think he’ll be great there.”

There is a long way to go before that happens - for both of them - but Dyson has taken a mighty leap towards a debut against the Americans.

Scotland’s Richie Ramsay, meanwhile, would have finished joint second but for three-putting from the Valley of Sin on the last. Joint fourth, however, secured his Tour card for next season - and he would certainly have taken that 10 days ago, having not been in the event until Casey pulled out.

McIlroy said: “After nine I thought I had a really good chance but Simon played great so hats off to him.

“I wanted better but second is okay. I wish I had played better for my dad but I still haven’t shot in the 70s at St Andrews, which is nice.”

Collated final-round scores from the European Tour’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews, Carnoustie & Kingsbarns in Fife, Scotland (Gbr & Irl unless stated, par 72):

268 Simon Dyson 68 66 68 66

271 Rory McIlroy 68 65 69 69, Oliver Wilson 69 67 70 65

272 Richie Ramsay 67 66 70 69, Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa) 70 68 65 69

273 Ross McGowan 66 68 71 68

274 Luke Donald 72 65 64 73, Darren Clarke 68 68 67 71

275 Gary Lockerbie 69 71 67 68, Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg) 70 71 68 66, Francois Delamontagne (Fra) 71 67 67 70, Gregory Bourdy (Fra) 73 67 67 68, Kenneth Ferrie 69 66 69 71, Paul McGinley 69 67 69 70, Lee Westwood 73 67 66 69

276 Peter Hanson (Swe) 72 64 75 65, Jose Manuel Lara (Spa) 67 68 69 72, Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 67 71 68 70

277 Brett Rumford (Aus) 68 71 70 68, Marc Warren 70 69 71 67, David Dixon 68 67 73 69, Simon Khan 74 70 67 66, Graeme Storm 69 69 72 67, Michael Hoey 67 66 70 74, Paul Broadhurst 70 67 72 68

278 Richard Bland 72 67 71 68, Carlos Del Moral (Spa) 69 69 71 69, Mikko Ilonen (Fin) 70 64 70 74, Graeme McDowell 69 70 68 71, Steven O’Hara 71 66 74 67, Johan Edfors (Swe) 70 68 70 70, Ernie Els (Rsa) 72 72 66 68, James Kamte (Rsa) 69 69 70 70, Sam Little 68 71 67 72, Padraig Harrington 70 70 72 66

279 Joakim Haeggman (Swe) 73 69 68 69, Francesco Molinari (Ita) 71 68 69 71, Damien McGrane 71 71 68 69, Dale Whitnell 69 69 73 68, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 74 67 68 70, Ignacio Garrido (Spa) 68 71 71 69

280 Callum Macaulay 72 73 67 68, Alessandro Tadini (Ita) 69 70 73 68, Soren Hansen (Den) 71 69 71 69, Thomas Bjorn (Den) 64 74 72 70, Marcel Siem (Ger) 70 71 70 69, Danny Willett 71 67 70 72, Mark Foster 71 70 68 71, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 70 69 73 68, Bradley Dredge 72 69 69 70

281 Gareth Maybin 66 73 71 71, Wade Ormsby (Aus) 70 66 73 72

282 Hennie Otto (Rsa) 70 70 72 70, Graham Delaet (Can) 70 68 74 70, Marc Cayeux (Zim) 70 70 71 71, Daniel Vancsik (Arg) 70 71 70 71, Brad Faxon (USA) 74 67 71 70, Trevor Immelman (Rsa) 71 67 72 72, Keith Horne (Rsa) 70 70 70 72, Richard Green (Aus) 72 69 69 72, Alastair Forsyth 70 64 77 71

283 Soren Kjeldsen (Den) 70 71 70 72, Gary Murphy 71 72 69 71, Michael Jonzon (Swe) 72 73 67 71, Alvaro Quiros (Spa) 72 68 70 73

284 Brett Quigley (USA) 72 71 69 72, Wallace Booth 72 65 75 72, David Lynn 73 66 73 72

285 Chih-bing Lam (Sin) 69 69 74 73

287 Lee Slattery 68 71 72 76

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Luke Donald fired a stunning 64 at Kingsbarns to ensure he will take a one-stroke lead into the final round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

The Englishman’s last victory came in America some three and a half years ago, but he is now in position to end that drought after a third round that contained nine birdies.

With the tournament going into an extra day after gale-force winds forced a cancellation of play on Saturday, Donald - who stands at 15-under-par - will be the man to catch at St Andrews on Monday.

Rory McIlroy and Simon Dyson are both one shot back of the leader having produced rounds of 69 and 68 respectively on Sunday, also at Kingsbarns.

Northern Irish duo Darren Clarke and Michael Hoey, Scot Richie Ramsay and recent Austrian Open champion, Rafael Cabrera Bello of Spain, are a further shot off the pace on 13-under.

Lee Westwood gave his hopes a shot in the arm with a 66 around Kingsbarns that moved him to 10-under-par, alongside Oliver Wilson and one ahead of another Ryder Cupper, Graeme McDowell.

However, it proved a frustrating day for Padraig Harrington who could no better than a level-par 72 at Kingsbarns leaving him well off the pace at four-under.

But it was a different story for Donald who followed up his splendid 65 at St Andrews on Friday with another spectacular display.

He set the tone for his round with birdies at the first and second and picked up further strokes at the fourth and eighth to hit the turn in 32 strokes.

He maintained his momentum with more birdies at ten, 12 and 13 before his only blemish of the day arrived at the short 15th.

Having found water with his tee-shot he managed to limit the damage to a bogey-four, but bounced back in fine style with birdies at 16 and 17 to edge himself to the top of the leaderboard.

Playing in a pair of tartan trousers, Donald conceded afterwards he felt somewhat under pressure to deliver given his rather eye-catching attire.

“I’m glad I played well because you have to when you wear something this outrageous,” stated the 29-year-old.

“I thought five or six birdies would be good but I went a few better.”

Starting the day with a share of the lead, McIlroy had looked set to pull clear of the field as a 25-foot eagle putt on the third moved him two ahead.

But the 20-year-old stumbled after that early piece of magic and three bogeys in five holes rather took the wind out of his sales.

But he fought back with a birdie at the ninth to turn in a level-par 36 shots and three more on the back nine meant he is still very handily-poised ahead of the final round.

In it McIlroy will again be partnered by his father Gerry who turns 50 on Monday and the rising star admits it would be a memorable way to celebrate if he can emerge triumphant at St Andrews.

“We thought we would be heading home tonight - I think Mum had a surprise planned,” McIlroy explained.

“But it will be great to play with him on the Old Course again and to win would be incredible. Awesome.”

Dyson also produced an eagle in his third round after holing his second at the sixth and mixed in four birdies and a double-bogey in an eventful display.

Clarke was left to rue a three-putt bogey at the last which denied him a spot alongside McIlroy and Dyson, but the Ulsterman will not be too despondent as he signed for a 67.

Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie and defending champion Robert Karlsson were amongst those who crashed out, both missing the cut by three shots.

In the team event Soren Hansen and Kieran McManus lead at 31-under by one from Australia’s former Test captain Steve Waugh and Scott Strange, but one-legged Manuel De Los Santos - playing with Simon Bland - just missed the team cut by one shot on 20-under.

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