Tiger On Firestone at WGC Bridgestone

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Tiger Woods remains on course for his eighth Bridgestone Invitational title after preserving a seven-shot lead with one round to play.

The American followed up Friday's career-equalling best 61 with a 68 to leave him on 15 under par in Ohio.

Sweden's Henrik Stenson moved into second on eight under with American Jason Dufner a shot back in third.

England's Chris Wood and Luke Donald are in a three-way tie for fourth on six under.

But there appears to be no stopping Woods, who, chasing his fifth title of the season, started his third round with consecutive birdies.

After six straight pars the 37-year-old closed the front nine with a bogey but responded with a birdie at the 10th.

Woods birdied the 13th but took a bogey at the next hole and continued the up-and-down run with a bogey at the par-five 16th followed by a birdie at the par-four 17th.

The best round of the day came from Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez, who carded a 65 to move into tied seventh on five under.

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy showed improved form as he shot a one-under 69 but remained well off the pace.

His first sub-par round of the week left him on level par and in a share of 17th, alongside England's Ian Poulter and Justin Rose.

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Donald Inspired by Olympic Spirit

Luke Donald will again try to win his first major this week, but this time will do so having been inspired and motivated by Britain's success at the Olympics.

The Englishman spoke while dodging thunderstorms at Kiawah Island in South Carolina, where the USPGA Championship - starting on Thursday - will be his 38th attempt to land one of golf's four biggest titles.

'It's good to know hard work pays off - I've always tried to think in those terms,' the world No 1 said today.

Donald watched Andy Murray beat Roger Federer during a rain delay in Akron on Sunday and has tried to capture as much of the London action as possible, although much of it is been shown delayed on American television.

'That takes the edge off when you know who's going to win, but I think Mo Farah's last lap was pretty special and obviously Jessica Ennis, living up to the expectation that was put on her shoulders,' said Donald.

'She was kind of the poster child for the Olympic Games.

'They're all inspiring in their own way. The fact that you have one event every four years to really work hard, to see some of the guys who don't perform and to see some of the guys that perform and win gold, I mean, there's a lot of raw emotions there.

'And watching certainly has inspired me a lot in terms of having that wish to be there in four years, to have an opportunity to also win a gold medal.'

Golf will be back as part of the Games in Rio after a gap of more than 100 years, and to be there Donald will either have to be in the world's top 15 still or one of Britain's top-two players.

The final major of the season inevitably flies under the radar this week as the Olympics continue, but that will not make victory taste any less sweet for the 34-year-old, who saw his fifth-placed finish in The Open three weeks ago as something of a breakthrough.

It was not where he came, but more how he felt that Donald takes heart from - especially after the bitter disappointment of missing the halfway cut at the US Open in June.

'Coming off the US Open I was very disappointed how I kind of handled the situation mentally,' Donald said.

'I didn't come in hitting the ball that great and maybe that added to some of the anxiety.

'But certainly I think there was a little bit of a breakthrough, just realising at the Open Championship that no matter how I'm hitting it physically there's always a way to mentally be on top.

'I did that very well and as a result I also played pretty well.'

The last 16 majors have been won by 16 different players - Ernie Els was the latest to joint the list at Royal Lytham - and Donald hopes he can be the one to take it to 17.

'I guess the longer the streak goes, the more encouragement it gives to those guys who haven't yet won a major, like myself. But I'm not sure if it changes anything for me.

'I continue to focus on what I can do and hopefully give myself a chance on Sunday.'

Tiger Woods, who has now gone over four years since the last of his 14 majors, can also become the 17th.

Woods had chances at both the US Open and Open, but fell back to 21st in San Francisco and had to settle for third in Lancashire.

With three tournament wins he describes it as "a pretty good year", but knows this is his last opportunity of 2012 to turn it into a great one.

'I'm pleased at the way I was able to play at certain times and obviously disappointed that I did not win,' Woods said.

'I've played in three major championships this year (he was only 40th at The Masters), and I didn't win any of them - that's the goal.

'Things have progressed, but not winning a major championship doesn't feel very good.'

Woods also hopes to become an Olympian in four years' time at the age of 40.

'Since we haven't done it in a very long time, it'll be something else to be able to represent our country like that in the Olympic Games,' he said.

More McIlroy Misery at US Open

Defending champion Rory McIlroy and world number one Luke Donald missed the cut at the US Open after failing to recover from poor first rounds.

World number two McIlroy missed out by two shots after carding a three-over-par 73 to finish 10 over.

Donald, still chasing his first victory in a major, carded 72 to finish 11 over at the testing Olympic Club.

McIlroy and Donald struggled from the outset in San Francisco and carded 77 and 79 respectively in round one.

McIlroy won by eight shots and broke a host of scoring records when he finished on 16 under at a rain-softened Congressional 12 months ago but the 23-year-old was unable to cope with the firmer, faster conditions of Olympic's Lake Course.

“It wasn't to be and I'm trying to learn from it and come back stronger next time”Luke Donald

The Northern Irishman, who played alongside Donald and world number three Lee Westwood in the more difficult afternoon conditions on Thursday, leaked five more bogeys and made two birdies early on Friday.

McIlroy, who was world number one for a spell earlier this year, missed three consecutive cuts recently before going close in his last PGA Tour event before the US Open.

"It's just such a demanding golf course and punishes the slightest shot that's off-line or that's maybe not the right distance," said McIlroy.

"You really have to be so precise out there and if you're not, you're going to get punished. We're just not used to playing this sort of golf course week-in, week-out.

"We're not used to having to land balls before the edge of the greens to let them run on. It's just something that you have to adjust to in this tournament. I wasn't able to do that very well this week.

"It hasn't been the greatest run over the last six weeks, or whatever it is, but I still see enough good stuff in the rounds that gives me hope that it's not very far away."

Englishman Donald, 34, has won six times in 15 months and was expected to be better suited to the patience and control required at a typically tough US Open set up.

But his quest for a first major title continues after mixing five bogeys with three birdies.

"It was a little better today, but little consolation obviously," he said.

"I think I missed nine putts inside 10 feet yesterday and just couldn't get the feel for the greens, the reads, the speed.

"And if I had putted a little bit better yesterday I could have ground out a score today and maybe been somewhere decently placed for the weekend.

"But it wasn't to be and I'm trying to learn from it and come back stronger next time."

Donald's next chance to break his major duck comes at the Open at Royal Lytham and St Annes next month, but he has just the one top 10 finish in 11 previous attempts in Britain.

Westwood shot 72 to be five over, the same as Ian Poulter (75), while another Englishman, Justin Rose, was one better after also carding 75.

Simon Dyson (74) and qualifier Matthew Baldwin (74) just sneaked in on eight over, but Lee Slattery (70) ended nine over and Robert Rock (78) missed out by five shots.

Scotland's Martin Laird ended nine over after a 72 and Ireland's Peter Lawrie finished 11 over after a 77.

Donald Ready for Olympic Club

World Number One Luke Donald believes his victory at the recent BMW PGA Championship was the perfect preparation for next week’s US Open Championship.

A fortnight ago, Donald held off the challenge of his friend and fellow Englishman Justin Rose to successfully defend The European Tour’s flagship title over the West Course at Wentworth Club, where the conditions were similar to those he expects to experience at the second Major of the season, held at the Olympic Club in San Francisco.

With the 7,170 yards, par 70 Lake Course renowned for its firm fairways, slick greens and penal rough, Donald’s unerring accuracy and deadly putting should stand him in good stead as he bids to secure an elusive first Major title.

Donald, whose highest finish at the US Open Championship was tied 12th in 2006, said: “Pars win US Opens, that’s the phrase, and I suppose that’s usually a strength of mine. I think I’m going to have to play pretty solidly off the tee, which in the past has perhaps been a slight weakness.

“But over the last couple years that’s really improved a lot, which is why I was really happy with myself on the final day of the BMW PGA Championship. There are some quite tough tee shots coming down the stretch at Wentworth, and I hit a lot of good, solid shots. That’ll be a key for me at the US Open.”

Donald has never teed up at the Olympic Club before, but the 34 year old believes the winning score is unlikely to be as low as last year, when Rory McIlroy – the man closest to him in the Official World Golf Ranking – romped to the title by eight shots on 16 under par.

He said: “What Rory did last year was pretty special – but outside Rory’s score, it wasn’t too far off a regular US Open. Obviously the weather had an effect on the score because the course was playing soft, and he had one of those weeks where everything was going great.

“I’m sure the USGA don’t want something that low, but I’m not sure if they’ll go too far the other way either. I just think they’ll make the set-up tough like usual. 

“I saw a little bit of the US Open preview on The Golf Channel last night, just to get a feel for what the course is like, and it looked pretty tough. The rough is really long, and the greens looked quite slopey. So it’s going to be very tough, but I’m really looking forward to it and hopefully I can have a great week.”

Donald Returns to the Top

World Top Three Drawn at Cadillac

The world's top three will play together in the opening round of the WGC-Cadillac Championship in Miami this week.

New number one Rory McIlroy will tee off with Luke Donald, the man he deposed by winning the Honda Classic last weekend, and also Lee Westwood, the man he beat in the semi-finals of the Accenture Match Play two weeks ago.

Last March it was Donald, Westwood and Martin Kaymer who were grouped together at the start of the season's second world championship event, with the German having just taken over at the top from Westwood. Because Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson were fifth and sixth on the rankings they also went head-to-head.

This time Woods, runner-up to McIlroy on Sunday after a spectacular closing 62, is with defending champion Nick Watney and Spain's Sergio Garcia. They are currently 16th, 17th and 18th in the world - and Watney beat Woods in Arizona a fortnight ago.

Twelfth-ranked Mickelson, meanwhile, plays with Hunter Mahan, who beat McIlroy in the final of the Match Play, and Australian Adam Scott, winner of the Bridgestone world championship last August.

The draw also includes Ian Poulter, who was testing his fitness on Tuesday after rating himself 50-50 for the event after pulling out of last week's tournament and being diagnosed with pneumonia.

Fellow Englishman Paul Casey is all set to play for the first time since dislocating his shoulder snowboarding in Colorado on Christmas Eve.

Donald Draws Els in World Match Play

World number one Luke Donald has been drawn to meet three-time major winner Ernie Els in the Accenture World Match Play Championship this week.

Donald, the defending champion, will be hoping to reproduce his incredible 2011 form when he won all six of his matches before the 18th hole.

Tiger Woods will play Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano in Wednesday's opening round at Dove Mountain.

Rory McIlroy begins his campaign against South African George Coetzee.

Lee Westwood faces Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts at the Arizona course, while Sergio Garcia takes on fellow Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez.

Bill Haas, winner of Sunday's Northern Trust Open, tees off against Japan's Ryo Ishikawa while Dustin Johnson meets his US Ryder Cup team-mate Jim Furyk.

Donald, whose success came a year after his fellow Briton Ian Poulter won the tournament, needs to forget his disappointing showing in the Northern Trust Open last week.

The Buckinghamshire-based golfer slumped to a 56th place finish, carding 78 in his final round.

"I certainly have good feelings going back to Dove Mountain," he said.

"I have a pretty good matchplay record but you just never know with that format.

"I just try to be pretty good at not giving too many shots away, too many holes away, keeping the pressure on my opponents and taking it one match at a time.

"I have always had that inner belief that I could certainly play as well as I did last year and it's nice to see the hard work paying off but I feel like there is a lot more for me to achieve.

"There is a slight added burden of expectation but I feel I've dealt with that pretty well so far."

The first round matches will be played from 22-26 February.

Golf Writers Triple Crown for Donald

Luke Donald has collected another accolade after his historic season earned him the Golf Writers Trophy for 2011.

Donald is only the second player after Padraig Harrington in 2008 to win the triple crown of awards having already been named The European Tour Golfer of the Year and PGA Tour Player of the Year.

Darren Clarke, the Open champion, and Rory McIlroy, the US Open champion, tied for second place, while the European Solheim Cup team, captained by Alison Nicholas, took fourth place in the annual poll of members of the Association of Golf Writers.

“Any award you win gives you a great amount of pleasure and for the Golf Writers to consider me as their player of the year means a lot, it really does,” Donald said. “These are the people who really understand golf and appreciate all that I have achieved this year.

“All the people in the running for the AGW award – Rory, Darren, the Solheim Cup team and the Walker Cup team – would have been worthy winners and therefore it is very gratifying to get the vote ahead of all of them. That means an awful lot to me.”

Clarke, who won The Open at his 20th attempt at Sandwich, said: “What Luke Donald has achieved this year is unbelievable. I’m full of admiration for him. And for Rory to win the US Open like he did and so young shows what a fantastic talent he is. Both would be worthy winners of the Golf Writers Trophy.”

McIlroy, whose win in Hong Kong meant the Race to Dubai went down to the final tournament, said: “It has been an amazing year for me but as I said in Dubai, Luke deserves to be the Number One in our game this year. It is very satisfying to be mentioned alongside Luke, Darren and the Solheim team by the Golf Writers.”

Nicholas, whose team produced an amazing comeback in the late stages to pip the Americans at Killeen Castle, said: “I would like to congratulate the guys for their outstanding performances during 2011 and am delighted the European Solheim Cup team was judged alongside them. It proves the strength of men’s and women’s professional golf in Europe at present and highlights the young and fearless talent that is coming through. Our own next challenge will be to win the Solheim Cup for the first time in the USA in 2013.”

Donald became the first player officially to top of the money lists in both America and Europe. Ending the year as the World Number One, having deposed Lee Westwood by beating his compatriot in a play-off at the BMW PGA Championship, the 34-year-old Englishman won four times in 2011, including the WGC - Accenture Matchplay, the Barclays Scottish Open and the Children’s Miracle Network tournament at Disney World. The last title was achieved with six birdies in the last nine holes to overhaul Webb Simpson at the top of the US money list.

Donald went on to finish third at the Dubai World Championship presented by DP World and take the Race to Dubai title ahead of McIlroy. His excellent consistency all year brought 20 top-ten finishes from 27 tournaments, despite an emotional finale to the year that saw the birth of his second daughter, Sophia, and the death of his father, Colin.

Donald added: “It is a great feeling being given any award but to now be able to add the Golf Writers Award to that of the PGA Tour Player of the Year and the European Tour Race to Dubai Golfer of the Year, is something really special and something I will cherish. I look forward to actually receiving the award from the AGW in person and displaying it proudly on my mantelpiece at home.”

Donald will receive the trophy at the Golf Writers Dinner during the Open Championship at Royal Lytham and St Annes in July. The Golf Writers Trophy is the oldest of the annual awards, dating back to 1951, and, uniquely, takes into account both individual and team performances by European golfers.

Bill Elliott, chairman of the Association of Golf Writers, said: “We received a record number of votes this year which reflects the range of outstanding achievements by European golfers in 2011. This has been an extraordinary year and left members with an extremely difficult task in assessing their first, second and third place votes.

“Darren Clarke’s triumph at the Open Championship was one of the most popular and emotional victories ever seen, while Rory McIlroy is the most exciting talent in the game whose US Open win was the single most impressive performance of the year.

“But what Luke Donald has achieved over the whole season has been nothing less than superb. He is a class act on the course, but also off it, and he thoroughly deserves all the accolades he has received.

“Personally, I am delighted the Solheim Cup team featured strongly in the voting, which perhaps reflects my own view that their thrilling last-gasp victory was not just the most exciting golf of the year but the one of the best finishes to a team event in the history of the game.”

The Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team finished fifth in the poll, while there were also votes for the GB&I captain Nigel Edwards; the European captain Nicholas; Solheim stars Suzann Pettersen, Catriona Matthew and Caroline Hedwall; Tom Lewis, the leading amateur at the Open Championship and a winner of his third tournament on the European Tour; Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer, Sergio Garcia and Alvaro Quiros.

Donald Sets Transatlantic Record

Luke Donald became the first man to win the US and European money lists in one year after finishing third at the season-ending Dubai World Championship.

The world number one needed a top-nine finish to complete the feat and shot a bogey-free 66 for a 16 under total.

Rory McIlroy, who had to win the Dubai event for a chance of the money list, closed with a 71, 10 shots adrift.

Spaniard Alvaro Quiros, the overnight leader, won the title by two shots after a 67 left him at 19 under.

After accumulating £4.19m in winning the US money list, Donald finished with earnings of £3,632,685 from his tournaments on the European Tour.

"There's a lot still to achieve," he said, after being presented with the lavish Race to Dubai trophy. "The beauty of this game is that you are always looking for ways to improve.

"I'd love to pick up a major," added the Englishman, whose best finish to date in golf's big four annual events is joint third in the Masters and PGA Championship.

"It's fun being number one but I know there are lots of great players chasing me and that will keep me motivated to work hard."

It was a typically assured performance from 34-year-old Donald, who did not drop a shot over the final 46 holes of the tournament.

He began the final day four behind overnight leader Quiros and made the perfect start with a measured approach that trickled to within nine feet of the flag at the first hole and a calm birdie putt.

After a successful up and down from the sand at the fourth he recorded another birdie at the fifth when another fine approach finished within five feet of the pin.

Donald missed several birdie opportunities but finished in style by picking up shots at each of the closing three holes.

At the treacherous par-three 17th over water he pitched to within five feet for a two then at the par five last his wedge shot from the fairway finished two feet from the cup.

McIlroy holed a 20-foot putt at the 10th for his second birdie of the day to reach 10 under but his anger was evident when he missed a par putt from six feet at the next.

The US Open champion parred his way in to a round of 71 and second place in the Race to Dubai standings.

"I can't wait to have a few weeks off," said the 22-year-old, who has been troubled by a possible case of Dengue fever and has withdrawn from next week's Thailand Golf Championship, the last event of the season on the Asian Tour.

"The doctor told me that no matter how bad I'm feeling now I'd be even worse if I played next week."

Quiros had lost his two-shot advantage by the turn after veteran Scotsman Paul Lawrie picked up five shots in his first eight holes.

However, the long-hitting 28-year-old secured his fifth European title when he eagled the last for the second time in the tournament.

Meanwhile the European Tour announced that a new three-year agreement had been signed for the Dubai tournament to continue as the finale to the season.

LUKE DONALD FACTFILE

2002 Claims first US Tour win

2004 Wins twice on the European Tour, helps Europe to Ryder Cup victory and wins World Cup with Paul Casey

2006 Records a second US title and wins all three matches in another European Ryder Cup victory

2008 Wrist injury forces him out of Ryder Cup, which Europe lose

2010 Wins Madrid Masters and takes three out of four points as Europe regain Ryder Cup

2011 Wins World Match Play and European Tour's PGA Championship to become world number one

EUROPEAN MONEY LIST

2010 Martin Kaymer (Ger)

2009 Lee Westwood (Eng)

2008 Robert Karlsson (Swe)

2007 Justin Rose (Eng)

2006 Padraig Harrington (Ire)

Donald at Heaven's Gate On Earth

Luke Donald took a notable step towards an historic US and European money list double after a fine third round at the Dubai World Championship.

The world number one needs a top-nine finish and he moved from joint 12th to fourth place at 10 under after a 66.

Rory McIlroy would claim the money list by winning the event if Donald were to drop back but, although he birdied the last in a 71, he is six off the lead.

Alvaro Quiros is two strokes ahead after a 70 took him to 14 under.

Donald described his bogey-free day as "the perfect round for me - exactly what I wanted."

He had started his first two rounds with a dropped shot, but this time it was with a 14-foot birdie putt and he holed from inside two feet at the eighth for his fourth birdie of the day.

In contrast, McIlroy, who began the day three ahead of Donald, made a poor start.

He drove into a bunker at the third and failed to get up and down from just off the green while, at the par five seventh, he ran up a double bogey after his second shot found a bush and he was forced to take a penalty drop.

McIlroy recovered admirably on the back nine, with four birdies and no dropped shots from the 11th, culminating in a deft chip and putt from a perilous position just short of the creek in front of the green.

However, he admitted his chances of winning the tournament and Donald finishing outside the top-nine were no longer realistic.

"It's over," said the 22-year-old, who has been battling with a possible case of Dengue fever. "Luke is in a great position and has played great all year. He deserves it, he's had an incredible year."

Donald briefly moved into a tie for second, four behind Quiros, when he added birdies on the 15th and 16th, first chipping to two feet and then hitting his approach to six feet, before missing a putt for a 65 at the last.

Quiros still leads, but his four-shot overnight advantage was halved after a bogey six at the 18th.

Europe's longest hitter- for the fourth time in five seasons - was in the rough off the tee at the par five and took three from the edge of the green.

His nearest rival is veteran Scot Paul Lawrie, who eagled the closing hole to return a 66.

Donald Dual Money List Winner

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.

Donald Seeking to Set New Record

England's world number one Luke Donald remains hopeful of becoming the first player to top both the European and US money lists in the same season.

Donald, who leads in Europe by more than one million euros, needs a top-two finish at this week's season-ending PGA Tour event to keep his US dream alive.

America's Webb Simpson tops the US list and the duo have been paired together for the first two rounds in Florida.

"Everyone knows why I'm here and I'll give it my best shot," said Donald.

He added: "It would be great to go out there and try and win this event. Hopefully that would be good enough to win the money title."

Donald had not planned on playing in the final four events of the PGA Tour season but made a late decision to compete in the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Classic at the Disney World resort after Simpson overtook him in the standings.

Should the 33-year-old win in Florida, Simpson - who leads the standings by $363,000 - would need to finish runner-up on his own to stay on top.

If Donald is second, or tied for second, Simpson needs a top eight or top 21 finish respectively to take the overall title.

Despite holding the advantage, Simpson knows he is facing a tough weekend.

"It's clear that for all practical purposes - and I think most guys would agree - that he [Donald] is the best player in the world," said the American.

"To have the success he's had - winning on both Tours, being on top of the money lists most of year - is really incredible, especially since he has a family.

"They've been travelling with him and he's just done an incredible job of balancing it all together.

"I think he's had 13 top-10 [finishes] out of 18 starts on our Tour.

"He's got such a great short game - he makes big putts when he needs to.

"All year he's played so consistently. He's been great to watch.

"We've had similar years. He's had a few chances to win and won once [in America], I've had a few chances to win and won twice."

Donald leads Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy by more than one million euros (£870k / $1.37m) in Europe's Race to Dubai, with two months remaining.