16 Apr 2012

Donald gives up No.1 golf spot to McIlroy

12:34 pm on 16 April 2012

England's Luke Donald will surrender golf's World No.1 ranking to Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy after a poor showing at the US PGA Heritage tournament.

Donald fired a level-par 71 overnight to finish on two-over par 286 for 72 holes.

He needed to share eighth place or better this week to keep his razor-thin margin ahead of McIlroy in the rankings.

Reigning US Open champion McIlroy, who turns 23 on May 4, claimed the top spot for the first time in his career last month when he won the US PGA Honda Classic.

But Donald moved past McIlroy two weeks later, reclaiming the top spot by winning the US PGA Transitions Championship.