Agencies/Royal Portrush, Northern Ireland

 

Jamie Donaldson of Wales holds the Irish Open Trophy after winning the Irish Open on the final day at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland yesterday. Donaldson, 36, shot a final round 66 to win by four strokes with an 18-under par tally. (AFP

In his 255th European Tour event and after a career in which he has had to battle with a genetic spine problem, 36-year-old Jamie Donaldson finally tasted victory in the Irish Open at Royal Portrush - and did it by four shots with five birdies in his last seven holes yesterday.
This was the first time since 1953 that the tournament had been played north of the border and what a success it was, with record crowds ever for a regular Tour event - over 112,000 for the four days.
Every one of them will hope it leads to the return of the Open Championship after even longer - Max Faulkner won that 61 years ago - and Donaldson will join them in that wish.
The former amateur star, who partnered Luke Donald and Paul Casey in the world team championship in 2000, has suffered from Pars disease, but careful management of it has finally enabled him to fulfil his dream.
His brilliant closing 66 was only one off the low round of the week and a 25-foot putt on the last enabled him to reach 18 under par.
“I’m buzzing,” he said. “And I’m so happy to have won on this course - I don’t think we have played a better one on the European Tour.”
Reminded of his long wait to break through - it has contained 32 top 10 finishes - Donaldson added: “It’s just been a case of keeping going. I knew that what I was doing was right.
“It feels a bit surreal to be honest. I don’t think it will sink in till later.”
The week also contained his first hole-in-one on the circuit and it began with him shooting 62 at Sunningdale to qualify for The Open at Royal Lytham in just over a fortnight.
Joint second were England’s Anthony Wall, Spaniard Rafa Cabrera-Bello and Paraguay’s Fabrizio Zanotti, but it was Swede Mikael Lundberg who threatened most to grab the title away from Donaldson.
From six back he covered the first 10 holes in a spectacular eight under and led by two. He could not keep it going, though, and bogeys at the 16th and 18th meant he eventually finished joint fifth.
With the local “Big Three” of Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke finishing 10th, 16th and 39th respectively the main Irish hope was 2007 winner Padraig Harrington.
He was only two behind when he teed off, but a disappointing 70 dropped him to joint seventh.
Donaldson, one in front of Wall overnight, chose not to look at leaderboards all day and it was only once he had reached the final tee that he asked caddie Mick Donaghy - new on the bag this week - for the position.