With This Win - Jamie Donaldson

• His first European Tour International Schedule victory in his 255th European Tour event.

• Moves to €537,722 in The Race to Dubai.

• Could move to just inside the top 60 of the Official World Golf Ranking from 116th.

• This victory beats his previous best European Tour performances of second in the 2009 SAS Masters and tied second in the 2003 Algarve Open de Portugal. Has amassed an overall total of 32 European Tour top ten finishes.

• This victory beats his previous best 2012 performance of tied third in the Trophée Hassan II.

• Becomes the tenth first-time winner of the 2012 European Tour International Schedule. He would follow: Branden Grace (Joburg Open), Jbe' Kruger (Avantha Masters), Julien Quesne (Open de Andalucía Costa del Sol), Thorbjørn Olesen (Sicilian Open), Bubba Watson (Masters Tournament), Bernd Wiesberger (Ballantine's Championship), Ricardo Santos (Madeira Islands Open - Portugal), Webb Simpson (US Open Championship) and Danny Willett (BMW International Open).

• The third consecutive first-time winner, following Webb Simpson (US Open Championship) and Danny Willett (BMW International Open).

• The first time there have been three consecutive first-time winners since Rhys Davies (2010 Trophée Hassan II), Louis Oosthuizen (2010 Open de Andalucia de Golf) and James Morrisson (2010 Madeira Islands Open).

• His victory comes in his ninth appearance in the Irish Open.

• His victory beats his previous best finish in the Irish Open of tied 13th in 2009.

• Becomes the third Welshman to win the Irish Open, following Ian Woosnam (1988 and 1989) and Stephen Dodd (2005).

OTHER FACTS

• Joins Ben Crenshaw (1976), Hubert Green (1977), Ken Brown (1978), David Carter (1998), Sergio Garcia (1999), Søren Hansen (2002) and Shane Lowry (2009), to make the Irish Open their first European Tour victory.

• Only the second time he has led going into the final round of a European Tour event. The first was the 2011 Omega European Masters, where he tied for third.

• The 15th time in the 2012 season that the 54 hole leader has gone onto win.

• Becomes the first Welshman to win on the 2012 European Tour International Schedule.

• The first Welsh victory on The European Tour since Rhys Davies at the 2010 Trophée Hassan II.

• The 45th Welsh victory on The European Tour.

• The tenth Welsh player to win on The European Tour.

• Gains a European Tour exemption until the end of 2014.

• Gains his largest European Tour prize of €333,330.

• Moves over €4 million in European Tour Official Career Earnings.

• Gains a place in the 2012 WGC - Bridgestone Invitational, 2012 WGC - HSBC Champions and 2013 Volvo Golf Champions.

• Gains his fifth win of his professional career.

• The 15th European Tour victory by a former Challenge Tour player on the 2012 European Tour from 26 events so far. He would: Louis Oosthuizen (Africa Open and Maybank Malaysian Open), Branden Grace (Joburg Open, Volvo Golf Champions and Volvo China Open), Robert Rock (Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship), Rafael Cabrera-Bello (Omega Dubai Desert Classic), Justin Rose (WGC - Cadillac Championship), Julien Quesne (Open de Andalucía Costa del Sol), Michael Hoey (Trophée Hassan II), Thørbjorn Olesen (Sicilian Open), Bernd Wiesberger (Ballantine's Championship), Ricardo Santos (Madeira Islands Open - Portugal) and Nicolas Colsaerts (Volvo World Match Play Championship).

• The 299th European Tour victory by a former Challenge Tour player.

• The 127th different former Challenge Tour player to win on The European Tour.

Courtesy European Tour 

Maiden in Portrush for Donaldson

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Jamie Donaldson ended his long wait for a first European Tour title as he shot a final round of 66 to win the Irish Open by four shots.

Despite no fewer than 32 top-10 finishes in his career, the Welshman had never previously managed a victory in 255 Tour starts heading into this week's event.

But he finally opened his account at Royal Portrush, holding his nerve in impressive style down the stretch as he closed out what was, ultimately, a convincing triumph.

Donaldson, the only man in the field to shoot four sub-70 rounds, birdied his last two holes to finish on 18-under-par, four clear of playing partner Anthony Wall, Fabrizio Zanotti of Paraguay and Spain's Rafael Cabrera-Bello who shared second place.

Donaldson's brilliant closing 66 was only one off the low round of the week and after securing victory he told Sky Sports: "I'm buzzing and I'm so happy to have won on this course - I don't think we have played a better one on the European Tour."

Reminded of his long wait to break through, he added: "It's just been a case of keeping going. I knew that what I was doing was right. It feels a bit surreal to be honest. I don't think it will sink in till later."

The week also contained his first hole-in-one on the circuit and it began with him shooting 62 at Sunningdale to qualify for The Open at Royal Lytham in just over a fortnight.

Early on it was Sweden's Mikael Lundberg (65) who threatened most to grab the title away from overnight leader Donaldson.

From six back he covered the first 10 holes in a spectacular eight under and led by two, but he could not keep it going on the back nine and bogeys at the 16th and 18th meant he eventually finished joint-fifth alongside England's Mark Foster.

With the local "Big Three" of Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke finishing 10th, 16th and 39th respectively the main Irish hope was 2007 winner Padraig Harrington - he was only two behind when he teed off, but a disappointing 70 dropped him to joint seventh.

Donaldson chose not to look at leaderboards all day and it was only once he had reached the final tee that he asked caddie Mick Donaghy - new on the bag this week - for the position.

The news was good. He was two ahead and that became four when Wall, bunkered off his drive, bogeyed and Donaldson put the icing on the cake with his long birdie putt on the final green.

He had earlier had three in a row from the second, then came back from a bogey at the short 11th with three in the next four holes and after dropping a shot at the 16th - he was the one in sand there - he closed with two more.

Wall's bogey at the last was disappointing, but to be in a tie for second was remarkable given that he had gone out of bounds and taken a triple-bogey eight at the second.

Meanwhile, Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee and South African Richard Sterne - who finished 18th and 44th respectively - clinched two places in the Open Championship after topping a mini-money list that had been running on the European Tour.

Royal Portrush Receive Tour Recognition

European Tour Chief Executive George O’Grady presented Royal Portrush Golf Club Captain John Moss with an engraved Waterford Crystal vase to thank the club for their superb hospitality in hosting this week’s Irish Open.

The presentation took place in the Royal Portrush clubhouse at a gathering for staff and officials on the eve of the final day’s play.

The 2012 Irish Open – the first staging of the championship in Northern Ireland since 1953 - has been a huge success for everyone involved with over 100,000 spectators having come through the gates in the five days from Tuesday to Saturday. 

Another bumper crowd in the region of 30,000 is expected for the final day’s play.

2012 Irish Open - Live leaderboard

McIroy Plans Portrush Charge

Royal Portrush legend Rory McIlroy last night warned the Irish Open leaders: “I’m coming to get you!”

Northern Ireland star McIlroy lies six shots behind leader Jamie Donaldson, who is top of the pile on 12 under.

But McIlroy – who ­famously battered this track as a 16-year-old to set the course record of 61 – fancies himself to pile pressure on the ­leaders this afternoon.

McIlroy, who was cheered on by tennis star girlfriend Caroline ­Wozniacki after her ­Wimbledon exit, struggled on the greens but believes he can still produce a ­thrilling comeback to claim the title.

He said: “There has been added ­pressure with the tournament being in Northern ­Ireland, but that is fine.

“I’m more frustrated than anything else. It felt like I played pretty well and didn’t really get much out of the round.

“A 71 is still a decent score in these conditions but I felt with the way I hit the ball, it could have been a lot lower.

“I just want to shoot a good score ­tomorrow and see what happens. It would be nice to put on a good finish and look forward to the Open in a couple of weeks.

“I’m going to try to get to at least 14-under tomorrow to have any sort of chance.

“And I think I can do it if I get off to a fast start and put pressure on the boys at the top of the leaderboard.”

Welsh hopeful Donaldson ­produced a memorable hole-in-one earlier in the week and yesterday carded a three-under-par 69 to move to the top of the leaderboard.

“After making bogey at the first, an eagle on the second put me back in the frame,” ­Donaldson said.

“I can’t get ahead of myself. I must just keep hitting fairways and greens. I’ve had a few chances of victory but not been good enough to stand on the 18th green as champion so far.

“I’m not going to worry about the likes of ­Padraig Harrington behind me, I will just play against myself.”

Harrington is the best-placed Irishman, two shots adrift of Donaldson and ready to end a two-year run ­without a Tour victory.

He said: “I would have said that nothing could compare to my first Irish Open win, but to win the first one in Northern Ireland in 40 years would be right up there.

“Having been there and done it before should help, even though it’s two years since my last win!

“I just want to put pressure on the leaders as early as possible and use the home crowd to my advantage.”

With 40,000 spectators expected Sunday, attendances will be in excess of 100,000 for the four days of the ­tournament, setting a new Tour record.