Luke uses the force to edge out new number one

Donald with the Walter Hagen trophy 

Luke Donald silenced his critics to win the biggest title of his career after beating newly crowned world number one Martin Kaymer at the World Golf Championships Accenture Match Play Final in Arizona yesterday.

The Englishman, who had not won for five years on the PGA Tour since the 2006 Honda Classic, put the record straight on the Dove Mountain course with a 3&2 victory over top-ranked Kaymer.

Donald took the early advantage and looked to be well on the way to victory after winning three of the opening five holes, with birdies at the 2nd and 4th and a bogey from Kaymer on the 5th.

However, the German world number one was offered a lifeline and fought his way back to all square at the turn, after Donald showed his first frailty of the week when bogeying the 6th and double bogeying the 9th - and it looked as though Donald's critics would be ready to ask the question once more.

But Donald, who moved from ninth to third in the world rankings with the win, bounced back quickly by taking the lead with an eight-foot birdie putt on the 11th and a par on the 12th to move 2 up.

The next three holes were shared before Donald calmly rolled in a birdie on the 15th to wrap up the match.

Donald was a deserved champion who can be proud of the manner in which he beat the world's top 64 players, having never trailed an opponent in a Match Play record of 89 holes and making seven more birdies than anyone else in the field.

When faced with his greatest test of the week, having blown a three-shot lead on the front nine against the best player in the world, he displayed strength and courage to respond.

"To come here and compete against the best players in the world and win the trophy is very gratifying," said Donald.

"Hopefully getting past that stage of going a number of years without winning will open up the flood gates, as they say."

Donald becomes the second Englishman to win the WGC Match Play event following Ian Poulter's 4&2 win over compatriot Paul Casey last year - yet again highlighting the superb transition of English golf in recent years.

The world number three now heads to the Honda Classic this week, the scene of his previous PGA Tour victory, brimming with confidence and the Walter Hagen trophy in his hands.