Donaldson secures Ryder Cup place

Jamie Donaldson secured his place in Europe's team for next month's Ryder Cup at Gleneagles with a storming final round to win the Czech Masters at the Albatross Golf Resort by two shots on Sunday.

Welshman Donaldson needed a top-seven finish to claim a place on the Ryder Cup team for the first time and did so in style, shooting a final round four-under-par 68 to finish at 14 under, winning his third European Tour title in the process.

The 38-year-old overcame a two-shot deficit to compatriot Bradley Dredge, who finished second on 12-under.

South African Merrick Bremner and Denmark's Soren Kjeldsen finished tied for third, a shot further back.

Scot Stephen Gallacher, another European Ryder Cup hopeful, finished tied for seventh, seven shots behind Donaldson.

Ireland's Kevin Phelan finished on three under after a 71. Damien McGrane improved to level par with a 71 also, while Peter Lawrie and Gareth Maybin both carded 72 to remain on one over and five over respectively.

“It’s been an amazing week,” Donaldson told Sky Sports. “I didn’t decide to come here until late. I needed to play well this week or next week or both to guarantee a place in the Ryder Cup team.

“There’s a lot on the line and I knew I had to play well and this week I played really well and it all came together.

“It’s so difficult to get in the team. I’ve played as well as I can play for 18 months. A couple of slow events and you just rocket down.”

With his short game in particularly fine fettle Donaldson started his final round in inspired form, taking the lead with three birdies from the first three holes.

He bogeyed the fourth to surrender the advantage to Kjeldsen who birdied the fifth hole.

The lead continued to change hands until Donaldson made the most of two Kjeldsen bogeys to open up a two-shot lead with a long birdie at the tenth.

From that position he rarely looked in trouble and could even afford to bogey the 17th hole on his way to the title.