Jamie Donaldson wins Czech Masters to secure Ryder Cup place

Welsh professional golfer Jamie Donaldson won the Czech Masters in Prague to secure a Ryder Cup place.

Donaldson had needed a top-seven finish to seal a debut spot in the Europe team for next month's contest against the USA at Gleneagles. He gained his third European Tour win, beating compatriot and overnight leader Bradley Dredge by two shots after a final-round 68 to finish 14 under par. Scot Stephen Gallacher, another Ryder Cup hopeful, was tied for seventh.

Donaldson said that it has been an amazing week, and added that he needed to play well either this week or next week, or both, to guarantee his place in the Ryder Cup team so there was a lot on the line, The BBC reported.

The Welshman said that winning is everything as it shoots one up world rankings.

English duo Eddie Pepperell and Tommy Fleetwood finished in a tie for fifth, one stroke ahead of compatriot Sam Walker and Gallacher.

Donaldson added that it is massive as the three last holes coming in there were really tough with the wind blowing, so he said that he is just really happy to seal it.

It was the first Welsh 1-2 on the European circuit, with Dredge still without a success since the last of his two Tour victories in 2006.

Donaldson opened the final day with three successive birdies to take the lead, though he lost it to Denmark's Soren Kjeldsen with a bogey at the fourth. 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 10th.

He stayed in front after that and could even afford to bogey the 17th on his way to victory, the report added.