Jamie Donaldson pleased as Ryder Cup plan pays off

Jamie Donaldson needed a top-seven finish to secure his spot on Europe's Ryder Cup team

Jamie Donaldson says doing his best to ignore qualification for the Ryder Cup is what helped him win a place in Europe's team.

The Welshman secured his place by winning the Czech Masters in Prague.

He said: "It's always popping into the back of your mind.

"But you've just got to ignore it and work towards the goal - the immediate goal - which is taking every shot as it comes and trying to win a golf tournament. And that's what I've done."

He can now prepare for the Europe v United States encounter at Gleneagles from Thursday 25 to Sunday 28 September.

Donaldson led in the first and second rounds before compatriot Bradley Dredge took over on day three.

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

Bradley Dredge went into the final day of the Czech Masters in the lead with Donaldson joint second

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 on the 10th.

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

"It's been a great week and a great finish to what's been a long 18 months," said 38-year-old Donaldson.

"It's very tight in there [Ryder Cup qualification] and something I've always wanted to play in.

"It's massive - those three last holes coming in there were really tough with the wind blowing, so I'm just really happy to seal it."

Dredge finished second to miss out on a first European tour win since 2006, but it still left Wales with a first 1-2 on the European circuit.

"It's been a great two weeks in terms of two seconds," said Dredge.

"Two firsts would have been better.

"I'm slightly disappointed that I didn't knock one off there, but I'll have a few more chances before the end of the year and we'll see how that goes."