Donald ducks unwanted tag to lift his first trophy in four long years

And that makes it an incredible four English players in the world's top nine just nine years after Lee Westwood was the only one in the top 100.

Donald, who blew the BMW PGA Championship by taking a double bogey seven on the penultimate hole, this time grabbed a brilliant eagle to settle his duel with Welshman Rhys Davies.

Level with three to play the 32-year-old hit a 252-yard fairway wood to 12 feet on the long 16th and with his third eagle of the week – "it's because I'm a big-hitter" he joked – struck the decisive blow.

Davies, already a winner in this his first full season on the European Tour, birdied the hole and still had a chance to force sudden death, but his 20-foot effort on the last was never on the right line.

The victory lifts Donald from 13th to ninth in the world – and to fourth place in the Ryder Cup points race, knocking Padraig Harrington out of the top nine who will earn automatic spots at the end of August.

His last victory was the Honda Classic in America in March 2006 and his last in Europe came in Switzerland in September 2004.

Donald won with a closing 67 to Davies's 68 and with a 21 under par total of 267. It earned him 214,242, but he said: "The money is secondary.

"It's been a while since I won and to put last week behind me makes me very proud.

"The way I played today means a lot to me. The eagle was huge because Rhys put a lot of pressure on me.

"It's happiness and relief – definitely some relief."

England now has as many players in the top 10 – himself, Westwood, Ian Poulter and Paul Casey – as America does.

And there is also Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy there too.

Davies, 25 last Friday, would have leapt into the top 50 with victory, but he is climbing fast and he will hope to go one better at this coming week's Wales Open at Celtic Manor.

"I didn't make a bogey in the final group in a big tournament," Davies said. "It didn't quite come off, but I've got lots to be pleased about.

"I was chasing the win and I just came up short unfortunately. On the 16th I thought I might keep the momentum (he had just birdied the 15th to level), but he threw in an eagle to be fair to him."

Yorkshire's Simon Dyson was the best-place county player, 10 shots behind Donald with a four-round 277. A shot further back was Hull's Richard Finch.

Harrogate's John Parry had rounds of 72 70 73 72.