Donaldson lands maiden Tour crown at Irish Open

Welshman Jamie Donaldson finally landed his first European Tour title at the 255th attempt today.

The 36-year-old, who had 32 top-10 finishes to his name since turning professional 12 years ago, won the Irish Open at Royal Portrush by four shots from England’s Anthony Wall, Spaniard Rafa Cabrera-Bello and Paraguay’s Fabrizio Zanotti.

Donaldson was overtaken by Swede Mikael Lundberg early in the day, but kept his composure and with five birdies in the last seven holes closed with a superb 66, only one off the lowest round of the week.

In the first Irish Open in the North since 1953, an event watched by sell-out crowds totalling more than 112,000, he posted an 18 under par total of 270.

The week had also included his first hole-in-one on the circuit – and he began it at Sunningdale by qualifying for The Open after a round of 62.