The Englishman came to the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic to win the PGA TOUR’s money title and the Arnold Palmer Trophy that goes with it. He committed last Friday, announcing his decision with a tweet that ended #bringiton
Donald did, too – firing a phenomenal final-round 64 that gave him his second title of the season and his eye-popping 14th top-10. But he had to wait on the range, leading by two, for about 45 minutes to see if there would be a playoff.
Justin Leonard, the overnight co-leader, was the last player with a chance to tie Donald – and he would have needed an improbable eagle on the 72nd hole. When his ball landed in a greenside bunker, Donald smiled broadly and began to accept congratulatory handshakes.
But there were other winners on Sunday, too.
Sunghoon Kang, Billy Mayfair and the 52-year-old Tom Pernice Jr. all played their way into the all-exempt 125 on the money list to save their playing privileges for 2012. Leonard also played his way into the top 125 but he was exempt through 2012.
Leonard, who finished second at Disney for the second time in two years, made the biggest jump, rising 53 spots to No. 91. Mayfair gained 18 spots and finished at No. 109 while Kang went from No. 141 to 120 and Pernice jumped 22 spots to No. 121.
James Driscoll, who came into the week as the bubble boy at No. 125, ended up in a tie for 12th and gained 11 spots in the money list.
The players falling out of the top 125 were Bobby Gates, who dropped two spots to No. 126; Roland Thatcher, who fell seven to No. 127: Tiger Woods, who went from No. 121 to 128 and Stuart Appleby, who fell seven to No. 122. Appleby and Woods are still exempt for 2012, tough.
Bill Lunde also came away a winner, too, even though he missed the cut at the CMN Hospitals Classic. He walked away $1 million richer after winning the season-long Kodak Challenge.