Donald says McIlroy can leave Tiger in the shade

TIGER WOODS had the 93rd win of his career on Sunday and may yet go on to beat the record 18 majors of Jack Nicklaus – but he has never had the talent of Rory McIlroy.

That at least is the opinion of world number one Luke Donald, who believes “the sky is the limit” for the 22-year-old Irishman. “Tiger’s work ethic has always been tremendous and I think his mindset is what has separated himself from the field when he was really at the top of the game,” Donald said.

“But in terms of talent, I think Rory has more. Of the guys I’ve played with out here on Tour Rory has the most.

“I see him winning lots of tournaments and lots of majors.”

It would make Donald a happy man, however, if US Open champion McIlroy does not add the Dubai World Championship at the Greg Norman-designed Earth course this week.

The world’s top two go head-to-head in the first round, with the European Tour money list crown on the line.

McIlroy is more than €798,000 behind, but should he repeat his Hong Kong Open victory on Sunday Donald will have to finish in the top nine to hold him off.

Most expect that to happen. Donald has had 19 top 10s in 25 starts this year and is in the position he is despite playing six fewer events than McIlroy.

The English star, 34 today, makes no secret of how much it would mean to him to become the first player “officially” to top the money lists on both sides of the Atlantic in the same season.

Even he feels the need to insert the word “officially” because Woods has actually done it six times in his career, but because he was not actually a European Tour member his name does not appear on the Harry Vardon Trophy.

“If it all works out Sunday it will be my biggest accomplishment,” said Donald, who grabbed the PGA Tour title in October by winning their last counting event when nothing less than second place would do.

“It’s just history. No-one’s officially done it ever before and I think that’s pretty amazing.”

The title race would have been over if McIlroy had been outside the top two in Hong Kong, but Donald was not surprised to learn the youngster had won.

“It would be nice to be sitting on the beach right now with a cocktail in my hand and not worrying about it too much, but there’s nothing really easy in life,” Donald said.

“It’s made me more focused and I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

Donald admits there was a time when he was asked if he wanted to be number one and said no because he had witnessed “Tigermania”.

After Westwood took over late last year, though, Donald took a different view.

“I kind of saw that really his life had not changed too much. It’s nice in a way my profile isn’t higher – in my private life I can do whatever I need and not get too bothered.

“Maybe it’s just something to do with my personality. I just go about my business, I’m not too outspoken, I’m not too controversial and I don’t really believe in trying to hype up the crowd.”

Meanwhile Shane Lowry admits there is a ‘sense of achievement’ in securing qualification for Dubai this week.

The former Irish Open winner was sidelined for three months after slipping on ice but fourth place finishes in the BMW PGA and the Andalucian Masters left him 45th in the rankings — 15 inside the cut off point.

“I guess there is a sense of achievement being here in Dubai especially after the year I’ve had and the way it started out breaking my wrist. If you’d have told me in March I’d be standing here now, I’d have taken it.

“Last year I made most cuts and sort of finished 40th or 50 every week and it actually was very frustrating. Even when I’ve missed a few cuts this year, I knew I was quite close. For example, I missed the cut in Gleneagles this year and it probably was the best I’ve played all year. I have felt like every week over the last three or four tournaments I’ve had a chance of doing well. And this week is another step up for me to be one of only 60 players to be here.”