Jamie Donaldson secured his place in Europe’s Ryder Cup team in triumphant fashion, after shooting a final round of 68 to fend off a resurgent Bradley Dredge to claim the D+D REAL Czech Masters.
The 38-year-old Welshman, who has elevated himself into the elite on the European Tour during the past few years, required a top seven finish in the Czech Republic to ensure of his participation in golf’s biennial showpiece at Gleneagles next month.
He started the final round two shots behind compatriot Bradley Dredge, who finished second in last week’s inaugural Made In Denmark. But that advantage would be erased in blisteringly quick fashion.
Donaldson opened with three successive birdies, a clear statement of intent, with Dredge dropping a shot on the third. However, last year’s winner in Abu Dhabi would make bogey on the fourth, which opened the door for Soren Kjeldsen, who claimed the lead after his third birdie of the day on the fifth.
However, the Dane’s period at the front would be short lived, despite a birdie at the seventh. He made consecutive bogeys to complete the front-nine, with Donaldson edging ahead once again after completing the front in 33.
Onto the back-nine, and it was Donaldson who would reaffirm his lead with a birdie on the long 10th hole. Kjeldsen’s challenge would start to drift away after a bogey on the 11th, which saw him fall two shots behind a confident Donaldson.
All three players in the final group would birdie the 12th, with Dredge back into the reckoning following a chip-in birdie at the 14th.
But both Welshman would match each other on the way in, with a bogey on the 17th the only blemish on either man’s card. That three-putt on the penultimate hole would not prove costly for Donaldson, as he made a comfortably well executed par on the last to complete his third European Tour victory.
“This is big – it’s been an amazing week,” Donaldson explained to EuropeanTour.Com.
“I didn’t get here until late; 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, so that’s great.
“Winning is everything: wins shoot you up world rankings, Race to Dubai, all sorts. Its massive - those three last holes coming in there were really tough with the wind blowing, so I’m just really happy to seal it.”
Donaldson will become the sixth player from Wales to play in a Ryder Cup, and this achievement is a deserved reward for some excellent player during the past two seasons.
“It’s so difficult to get into the team, the lads are playing so well. You know that you have to play well to secure your place and it did come down to the wire. But that’s how it is to get into the team – I played as well as I can play for 18 months, and then a couple of slow events and you rocket down the list, so it’s great to come here and play so well and do enough to get into the team.”
54-hole leader, Dredge finished one shot ahead of Kjeldsen and Merrick Bremner of South Africa to secure a second consecutive runner-up finish. Having not posted a top ten finish in three years before last week, this sudden resurgence of form has secured the Welshman’s European Tour card for next season. Although there was understandable disappointment at not being able to go one better.
“Mixed feelings because again there was the chance to win there,” he said. “I had a two shot lead going into the last round.
“Both the guys got off to great starts today and I played nicely, but just didn’t putt as well today.
“I was trying to keep the pressure on and try to force the other guys into mistakes, but to be fair to Jamie he played great and I’m pleased he’s secured his place in the Ryder Cup.
“It’s been a great two weeks in terms of two seconds. Two firsts would’ve been better. Slightly disappointed I didn’t win one, but I’ll have a few more chances before the end of the year, and see how that goes.”
Dredge has much to anticipate in the future, but not to the same extent as Donaldson, who can look ahead to making his Ryder Cup debut in Scotland. As many of the more established names toil in a battle to ensure of their participation, the Welshman can be proud of his assured and consistent play that has seen him secure his spot with one week to spare.
And he may prove to be a valuable asset for Paul McGinley.