Donald leapfrogs Tiger with Japan win

TOKYO (AFP) –

Luke Donald during the WGC-HSBC Champions golf tournament in China’s Dongguan on November 1. He is eyeing victory at the World Tour Championship in Dubai after a comfortable win in Japan saw him leapfrog Tiger Woods into the number two spot in the world rankings.

Luke Donald is eyeing victory at the World Tour Championship in Dubai after a comfortable win in Japan saw him leapfrog Tiger Woods into the number two spot in the world rankings.

The Englishman’s title at the Dunlop Phoenix 2012 in southwestern Japan on Sunday means he has only Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy ahead of him in top spot.

Donald ended five strokes clear of 20-year-old student Hideki Matsuyama in Miyazaki before turning his attentions to this week’s $8 million Tour Championship, the final event on the 2012 European Tour calendar.

The Englishman, 34, thanked fans on Twitter as he jetted off to Dubai for the tournament, which starts on Thursday.

“Thanks for all the lovely messages — just about to land into Dubai – one last chance for glory in 2012!” tweeted the former world number one.

Donald became the first player ever to top the money lists on both sides of the Atlantic in a single season last year, a feat matched by McIlroy this year.

Donald, currently in eighth position in the Race to Dubai, the European money list, finished third in Dubai last year.