Donald snatches win as Clarke falters

Donald, who celebrated his 28th birthday last Wednesday, matched the record for the best closing round by a winner in the event's seven-year history.

No one gave Donald much of a chance, especially the way Clarke was playing, but the Northern Irishman fell apart down the stretch with a bogey on the par-5 16th. Needing a birdie on the 18th to force a playoff, he pulled his approach, and three-putted for a bogey for a 72, leaving him two strokes back. Donald finished at 16-under 272 and won $1.3 million (£742,000) from the richest event in the silly season.

Donald was pleased to succeed after missing good chances to win at the Buick Invitational and The Players Championship this year.

"Luckily, I played great," Donald said. "Fortunately for me, the guys in the top two groups didn't play their best and let me have this one a little bit. This has been a year of nearlys. Luckily, I got the last one. It will make Christmas a little better."

Padraig Harrington, who also started one shot behind Clarke, hit into the bushes on the par-3 eighth and made double bogey, and never quite recovered. He hit into the water on No18 for a double bogey to shoot 73 and tie with Michael Campbell for third.

Tiger Woods bogeyed two of his last three holes and shot 73 to finish tied for 14th.

Donald must hope this is a springboard to 2006. In addition to his lone tour victory in the Southern Farm Bureau Classic three years ago, he won twice last year in Europe. While this isn't an official victory, he beat 15 of the world's best players.