Published Sunday, 27 May 2012
Rory McIlroy reacts to his tee shot on the 14th hole at Wentworth. (© Getty)
McIlroy missed a second successive cut at the competition on Friday after he delivered his worst-ever tournament performance in Europe.
It meant Donald only needed a top-eight finish to top the rankings for a fourth time - but he turned in an accomplished performance to take first prize with a closing 68 and 15-under-par total of 273.
He and McIlroy have now changed places six times since March.
But the 23-year-old from Holywood, who crashed out of the flagship event just a fortnight after exiting the Players Championship in Florida, will now have his sights set on making a comeback.
He will meet Donald at the Memorial tournament in Ohio starting on Thursday, ahead of the US Open set to start in San Francisco on 14 June.