Golf:Luke Donald believes completing an historic money list double in Dubai will be his greatest achievement in golf. If he can manage the feat and hold off Rory McIlroy — a player Donald reckons has more talent than anybody he has ever competed against, including Tiger Woods — for the European Tour crown, the world number one will be able to dedicate it to his late father.

“If it works out on Sunday it will be my biggest accomplishment.” Donald returned last week from a month-long break during which his father Colin died suddenly and his second daughter was born only a few days later.

“It’s been a wide range of emotions, something you can’t ever prepare for. My father’s death was very, very sad and very tough, but the birth of my second daughter spread a little grace on the situation. I’m not sure he will specifically be on my mind this weekend, but it would be nice to win it for him.”

The US PGA Tour title is already in the bag, achieved in spectacular fashion in October. The Englishman went into the final event of their season trailing Webb Simpson and had to finish first or second just to have a chance of taking the number one spot; with a round to play was in 14th place five shots off the lead.

Donald birdied six of the last nine holes and with the American Simpson, falling back, an inward 30 made him the first European to top the money list in the States.

Now his sights are on becoming the first player of any nationality to do the official double in the same season, although in truth Tiger Woods actually did it six times, but never played enough European events to be included on the table. Donald admitted: “Nobody has officially done it and that’s pretty amazing.”