Donald delighted after victory

Luke Donald was delighted after his eight-under-par 64 sealed a come-from-behind victory at the Target World Challenge in California.

Donald sank eight birdies in a bogey-free round to finish at 16-under on 272.

Ulsterman Darren Clarke, who entered the final round with a two-stroke lead, finished second at 14-under after carding a level-par 72.

Padraig Harrington and Michael Campbell both signed for 73s and finished tied for third at 12-under, with Kenny Perry (72) a further stroke behind.

“I felt like it was the last round of the tournament, the last round of my year. I gave it my all, and thought who knows, if I shoot eight-under, I might have a chance,” Donald said.

“Obviously I expected Darren, Padraig and Michael to maybe score three- or four-under, so I thought if I shoot eight-under it might be good enough.”

The Englishman overcame a huge deficit by shooting 31 on the back nine in and seeing Clarke falter down the stretch.

Donald started the day six shots off the lead but birdied three of his first five holes before really getting hot on the back nine.

After making the turn, he birdied four of the next five holes and sank his final birdie on the par-five 16th.

Clarke was two-under for his round but bogeyed the 16th and closed his round with another bogey on the last to give Donald the win.

“It was obviously disappointing,” said Clarke. “I swung it pretty poorly all day and it was going left a bit. And then bogeying two holes of the last three was not really the way I wanted to finish.”

Tiger Woods, who hosted the event, shot a 73 to finish tied for 14th with Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie (71).

It was the first time since 1999 that Woods did not finish either first or second.

“It’s been a long week, a long year, and it’s taken its toll,” said Woods. “I just couldn’t put it all together.”