Donald finds cure in Arizona

Golf: England's Luke Donald is up to a career-high third in the world, but what means most to him is that he is a winner in America again. The Englishman's victory over new world number one Martin Kaymer at the World Match Play Championship in Arizona on Sunday night would have been special in any circumstances.

But coming as it did five years after his last success on United States soil, the relief was palpable when the 33-year-old shook hands with his Ryder Cup team-mate after a 3&2 win.

Two years ago an American writer came up with the phrase "Luke Donald Disease" to describe what he saw happening to British golfers coming down the stretch of big tournaments. Now Europe rules the waves - the Ryder Cup belongs there and the top of the rankings reads Kaymer first, Lee Westwood second, Donald third and Graeme McDowell fourth, just ahead of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.

All four have triumphed in America in the last nine months, Kaymer and McDowell in majors, and they are not the only ones. So have Justin Rose (twice), Rory McIlroy and Ian Poulter at the Match Play last year.

Although Donald wobbled a bit in the 18-hole final, seeing an early three-up lead cancelled out by the time he triple-bogeyed the ninth, he was never behind in any of his six games all week.

That may never be repeated and nor possibly will the fact that he never had to play the 18th hole all week either.

"I can't describe it - I'm close to tears," he said before being presented with not only the trophy, but also a cheque for £864,838. It feels amazing. I've put a lot of work in over the last five years and it's nice to see it pay off.

"You always have doubts and the wheels were coming off a bit, so the up and down on the 10th was huge and to have three birdies in the last six holes was special. Hopefully it will open the gates. I'm not a modern-day player because I don't hit it that far and that makes it harder for me, but this is great win and I hope there are more to come.

"This is a win for a lot of people and means a lot. It's also a good (first) birthday present for my little daughter."

Donald lost the sixth, eighth and ninth holes, but the game's best bunker player got up and down from sand at the start of the inward half, then won the 11th with a birdie and the 12th with a par.

The long 13th was shared in birdies and it looked as though the driveable par four 15th would be as well, but Kaymer missed from three feet to fall three down and failed to get the birdie he needed to stay alive on the next.

It will still go down as a great week for the 26-year-old German though - a week in which he became the second youngest holder of the world number one spot after Woods.

The first person to be in that position when the rankings were introduced was his compatriot Bernhard Langer, but he stayed there for only three weeks.

Many expect Kaymer's reign to be a lot longer, although the fact that he is not playing this week gives Westwood an instant chance to reclaim the throne.

But he took the time to praise Donald's achievement.

"I think he's definitely one of the most consistent players on the Tour," he said. "And I think he's probably the best in the world in the short game at the moment. I played with Phil Mickelson a few times and it is unbelievable."