Donald relishes McIlroy challenge

Luke Donald admits he fully expected Rory McIlroy to be breathing down his neck but is confident of rising to the challenge and claiming the Race to Dubai title (McIlroy 8/1, Donald 1/10 Race To Dubai Outright with bet365).

Donald leads the Northern Irishman by £680,000 with just this week’s season-ending Dubai World Championship to play and he holds all the aces in the contest to finish as top dog in Europe.

McIlroy would have to win the event and see Donald finish outside the top 10 to scoop the bonus money on offer and so the scene is set for a classic encounter in the Middle East.

McIlroy put himself in contention to challenge Donald (10/1 Dubai World Championship Outright) by winning the Hong Kong Open on Sunday, while the Englishman struggled in the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa.

But the world number one has already shown that he is not afraid of a battle by winning the final tournament on the PGA Tour to claim the money list title on that side of the Atlantic.

He is now looking to make it a double on the European Tour this week and feels that it is his young Ryder Cup team-mate who will have to do all the chasing this time around.

“I knew he’d put the pressure on me and make it tough going, but I’ve still got a nice comfortable lead,” he said. “He’s going to have to go out and win this week and beat a high quality field, and I think the advantage is still with me.”

Donald down but not out

Luke Donald insists he is still motivated for the remainder of the season despite failing to land his first major in 2011 (Donald 11/8 – US Money List Winner with bet365).

The world number one finished tied for fourth at the Masters back in April and, after failing to make the cut at the Open Championship, bounced back to form with a joint-eighth-placed finish at the USPGA Championship.

Both Donald and fellow Englishman Lee Westwood are desperate to win their first major but will now have to wait until next year’s Masters for another tilt at one of the big four.

But there is still much to play for over the remaining months of the current campaign and Donald has a chance to create history by winning the money lists in both the United States and Europe in the same season (Donald 1/10 Race To Dubai Winner with bet365).

And the Hemel Hempstead-born star admits that it is something that will keep him motivated over the coming weeks.

“It’s certainly a goal,” he said. “That would be a great accomplishment. To be the first would be very special.”

Although there are big tournaments all around the world and the lucrative FedEx Cup play-offs begin next week, Donald could not hide his disappointment at ending the season without a major to show for his efforts.

“I know I’ve got the game to compete and win majors, but, again, it’s bittersweet – it’s another major gone, another year gone without winning a major,” he added.

“I’m moving in the right way, though. I just need that week where everything falls in place.”

McIlroy expects to bounce back

Rory McIlroy (9/2 with bet365 to win a major in 2011) believes he will be a better golfer and will become stronger mentally following his last-round nightmare at the Masters.

The 21-year-old looked to have one arm in the green jacket going into Sunday’s final 18 holes but his chances crumbled when he carded an eight-over-par round of 80 to slip back to -4 and finish 10 shots behind the eventual winner, Charl Schwartzel of South Africa.

It’s not the first time the Northern Irishman has failed to build on a major-winning chance, after also carding 80 during last year’s Open Championship.

Despite the collapse, McIlroy (6/1 to win the 2011 Race to Dubai) remains confident that he will be able to bounce make from his mauling at the hands of the Augusta course.

The man from Holywood said: “There are a lot worse things that can happen in your life. I’ll get over it. I’ll have plenty more chances – I know that.”

Three-time Masters winner Nick Faldo has also tipped McIlroy, who already has two professional tournament victories to his name, to respond and “come back stronger”.