Donald closes in on European crown

Having already topped America’s PGA Tour standings, Luke Donald was almost ready to be crowned Europe’s number one this season after the early exchanges in the Dubai World Championship final round.

Rory McIlroy had to win just to have a chance of denying Donald the double, but played the opening seven holes in one under and had slipped one place from his overnight eighth place.

He was also eight adrift of leader Alvaro Quiros, who marched into a four-stroke advantage over the entire field with three opening birdies.

Donald, meanwhile, was in joint fourth spot, making a nine-foot birdie on the first and following with three pars in a row.

Even if McIlroy won Donald would still top the money list with a top-nine finish.

McIlroy birdied the 10th, but a bogey on the next meant his pursuit of Donald was all but over.

The tournament contest was anything but, though. Quiros had five birdies in the first seven, but also two bogeys and by covering the same stretch in five under Lawrie moved level on 17 under par.

They were four clear of Donald and Swede Peter Hanson.

Lawrie, who in March ended nine years without a win, rounded off a superb front-nine 31 with a par four - and it took him ahead as Quiros was bunkered off the tee and had his fourth bogey.

Hanson was out of it after three successive birdies around the turn lifted him to 14 under, only three back.