Golf:Luke Donald will lose his world number one ranking to Rory McIlroy after finishing the RBC Heritage in South Carolina on two over par.

Donald, who closed with a second successive level-par 71, needed to finish in the top eight at Harbour Town to retain top spot, but was way back in joint 43rd when he completed his round.

The Englishman lost a play-off to Brandt Snedeker at the same venue last year, but he was never in contention this time around following his opening-round 75.

Today’s final round also started badly with a double-bogey six on the first, but birdies on the fifth and sixth helped Donald salvage some respectability.

At least eight players were already ahead of him in the clubhouse with the leaders only just starting their final rounds.

Sweden’s Carl Pettersson topped the leaderboard on 15 under par after five holes, four shots ahead of American Zach Johnson (through six).