• European Tour

Donald adds European Golfer of the Year honours

Luke Donald beat Rory McIlroy to player of the year honours © PA Photos

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Luke Donald has been named the European Tour's Golfer of the Year, adding to the PGA Tour equivalent he picked up on Wednesday.

Donald completed a historic achievement with his third-place finish at the season-ending Dubai World Championship on Sunday, a result that ensured he won the Race to Dubai in the same year he claimed the PGA Tour's money list title - becoming the first player to ever achieve the feat.

Having been voted the player of the year by his peers on the other side of the Atlantic on Wednesday, on Thursday the European Tour announced the 34-year-old Englishman had completed another double.

"To have the accolade of European Tour Golfer of the Year means an awful lot to me and I will certainly look back on this year with a lot of fond memories," said Donald. "It is always nice to be appreciated, especially from the people in the sport who know the game inside out. They have recognised what I have done this year and it is very gratifying to have that validation.

"As a professional golfer you are always trying to do your best and it was good to see all the hard work I have put in coming to fruition. I was delighted with my game this year and it is rewarding to feel that, sometimes, consistency does pay off. Everyone dreams of having a year like this and I am very excited and feel fortunate that it happened to me."

Major champions Charl Schwartzel, Rory McIlroy and Darren Clarke were all commended by the panel - which comprised of journalists and commentators from newspapers, magazine and radio.

"Rory's win at Congressional was amazing as was Darren's success in The Open while Charl birdieing the final four holes to win the Masters was a truly magical moment in golf," Donald noted. "Therefore, to be given the vote ahead of these great players who also had great years is very special indeed."

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