Luke Donald has become Europe's top player again after his runners-up finish at the Sony Open in Hawaii.

Donald, beaten by one shot by American Paul Goydos, moves up from 10th to seventh in the world rankings, while Padraig Harrington, who makes his 2007 debut in Abu Dhabi this week, slips from seventh to ninth.

The Honda Classic in Florida last March was Donald's last victory, but since then he has now had 13 top 10 finishes in Europe or America.

The 29-year-old led after an opening 63 last week, but following that up with rounds of 66 and two 69s was not quite good enough.

His chip for eagle on the par-five last had to go in for a play-off with Goydos and it hit the flag, but did not drop.

American Goydos ended a 10-year title drought on the PGA Tour with three birdies in the last four holes.

Goydos, whose only other Tour victory came at the 1996 Bay Hill Invitational, came back from two bogeys in the first three holes before finishing on 14-under 266.

He holed out from 25 feet at the 15th, rolled in a 16-footer on 16 to grab the outright lead for the first time and rallied from a bogey-four on 17 to clinch the PGA Tour's second event of the season.

After hitting his second shot just short of the green at the 551-yard 18th, he struck the flagstick with his eagle attempt before tapping in from within two feet for his sixth birdie of the day.

"I'm really happy with the way I played," Goydos said afterwards. "I made some putts when I needed to and just kind of stuck it out."

LEADING FINAL SCORES (USA unless stated, par 70): 266 - P Goydos 66 63 70 67; 267 - L Donald (Eng) 63 66 69 69, C Howell III 69 63 65 70; 271 - S Stricker 67 67 67 70, J Furyk 65 68 69 69, KJ Choi (Kor) 64 71 68 68, D Labelle 69 71 66 65; 272 - R Allenby (Aus) 67 66 70 69, G Ogilvy (Aus) 67 72 69 64; 273 - P Perez 68 70 69 66, S Lowery 72 67 67 67, C Kanada 72 65 66 70.