Jamie Donaldson has booked his place in the European team at this year’s Ryder Cup after winning the Czech Masters by two shots.
The Welshman, winner of the 2013 Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, held off the challenge of his countryman Bradley Dredge to scoop the €166,660 (Dh810,727) prize money and qualify via the European points list.
The 38-year-old hit six birdies and carded a four-under-par 68 to reverse a two-shot deficit behind Dredge after a third-round 71 saw him slip behind after leading following the first two days at the Albatross Golf Resort in Prague.
At the start of the week, he needed €30,000 (Dh145,936) from the Prague tournament and next week’s Italian Open to ensure he tees off at Gleneagles without fighting a host of other names for qualification from the world points list.
Donaldson was in a strong position to do that anyway and occupied the eighth of nine automatic spots, but his victory in the Czech Republic means he no longer has to worry about Graeme McDowell, Luke Donald, Ian Poulter and Stephen Gallacher breathing down his neck.
“This is big – it’s been an amazing week,” he said after the round.
“I needed to play well either this week or next week, or both, to guarantee my place in the Ryder Cup team, so there was a lot on the line and this week I played really well.”
Donaldson hit three back-to- back birdies to start his round in style and picked up a further shot, with bogeys on the fourth and 17th holes, to nudge him to 14-under overall and past Dredge, who could only manage a par 72 after dropping shots on the third and 17th holes.
The victory is Donaldson’s third European Tour title and he added: “Winning is everything: wins shoot you up world rankings, Race To Dubai, all sorts. It’s massive – those three last holes coming in there were really tough. I’m just really happy to seal it.
“It’s so difficult to get into the team. You know that you have to play well to secure your place and it did come down to the wire.”
Dredge finished one ahead of Soren Kjeldsen and Merrick Bremner to be a runner-up for the second time in as many weeks, but the 41-year-old is not too disheartened and congratulated Donaldson.
“I was trying to keep the pressure on, but to be fair to Jamie he played great and I’m pleased he’s secured his place in the Ryder Cup,” he said.
Gallacher, meanwhile, finished tied seventh on seven-under and still needs a good result in Italy to book his own place in the team.
