Donald withdraws from world championship for birth of second child

World number one Luke Donald has officially withdrawn from next week’s HSBC Champions world championship in Shanghai to be home for the birth of his and his wife's second child.

Already the PGA Tour leading money-winner this season, the event could have seen Donald clinch the European Tour money list title.

Now the likes of Rory McIlroy, Charl Schwartzel, Martin Kaymer and Lee Westwood have a chance to keep the race alive through to the Dubai World Championship in December.

Nobody has ever topped both tables in the same season and Donald, more than £1m clear, said: “Making history in the sport is very important to me, but the roles of husband and father are the most important in the world to me.

“Being there for my wife and family is where I have to be. My goal has been to try and top the money list on the PGA TOUR and the European Tour and I still hope to accomplish that.

“The WGC-HSBC Champions is a world-class event and as a player you look forward to competing against the best. I look forward to being able to participate next year.”

The US-based English star had been hoping that the daughter he and wife Diane are expecting would conveniently arrive this week.

“It’s no coincidence that the birth of our first daughter inspired me to some really great golf,” he added. “Family does put a lot of things into perspective and out-trumps everything.”

Donald was third at Sheshan last November, albeit by 10 and nine shots behind Italy’s Francesco Molinari and Westwood.

He added that the recent controversy over the last-minute decision to delay mailing out the ballots for the PGA Tour Player of the Year voting had nothing to do with his choice to stay by his wife’s side.

Only after his victory last Sunday in the Children’s Miracle Network Classic at Disney World was it decided to delay the vote.

“I have no problem with them including the HSBC Champions – they should. It was just the timing of it.

“The thing that disappointed me is that the schedule has been the same all year and it’s something that should have been known at the beginning of the year, not the day after Disney.

“The goalposts moved. It’s like running a marathon for 26 miles, crossing the finish line and then they say ’actually we’re going to make it 27 miles’.”

American Ben Crane, playing in Malaysia this week, replaces Donald in the 78-strong field.