FINAL LEADERBOARD US unless stated -12 L Donald (Eng) -10 G Ogilvy (Aus) -9 D Toms, B Mayfair -8 T Pernice Jr Selected others: -3 G Owen (Eng) -2 B Langer (Ger), P Harrington (Ire) +2 I Poulter +5 L Westwood (Eng) +7 B Davis (Eng)

The 28-year-old fired a closing 69 to end on 12 under, two shots clear of in-form Australian Geoff Ogilvy.

Early leader David Toms of America and countryman Billy Mayfair were finished in a tie for third on nine under.

European Ryder Cup star Donald became only the third Englishman to win more than once in America after Tony Jacklin and Nick Faldo.

Six-times major champion Faldo clinched nine titles and Jacklin four.

High Wycombe's Donald was tied for the overnight lead with Mayfair on nine under but struggled with his putter midway through the final round.

I knew if I could just play Luke Donald golf it would be enough Luke Donald

He birdied the first and fourth to stretch his lead but handed both shots back at the seventh and 10th before blazing three birdies in his last six holes.

"I was struggling on the greens and I lost a bit of confidence," said Donald who will move from 12th into the world's top 10 when the new rankings are announced on Monday.

"I had a couple of three-putts in a row and missed a tiddler on 10 but I was still right in there and I knew if I could just play Luke Donald golf (solid and steady) it would be enough.

"This is a big step. Anytime you can win, especially out here on the PGA Tour, it's a huge boost of confidence."

Donald, a former champion on the US collegiate circuit, made his Tour breakthrough at the 2002 Southern Farm Bureau Classic.

Donald stuns field to win Target

And he claimed another win on American soil at the end of last year at the World Target Challenge, although that event is an unofficial tournament not sanctioned by the PGA Tour.

If I can compete and win majors, then surely I can be the best player in the world Luke Donald

"The next goal is to win the majors. Do I think I can win majors? Absolutely. I think I have a great game for majors," said Donald.

"I'm very steady, and that's the main reason why I think, if I keep playing the way I'm playing, there's no reason why I can't strive to be the best player in the world.

"If I can compete and win majors, then surely I can be the best player in the world."

Ogilvy, surprise winner of last month's WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship at La Costa, secured second place after closing with a 69.

The Australian had narrowed the gap with Donald to one shot on the 16th but failed to birdie the long 17th as the Englishman scrambled to save par.

But a spectacular second shot from Donald set up a birdie at the last as Ogilvy missed his birdie putt from 35 feet.

"The ball had a bit of mud on it and I was just hoping it would fly straight. In the air it looked pretty good," said Donald of his approach.

World number eight David Toms, the highest-ranked player in the field, fired a 69 to finish tied with Mayfair (72).

Former USPGA champion Toms, winner of the Sony Open in Hawaii in January, has finished no worse than 19th in his first six PGA Tour starts of the year. Four times, he has placed in the top 10.

Little-known American Jeff Gove, a Nationwide Tour graduate ranked 485th in the world, had led with nine to play after Donald's bogey on 10.

But he dropped four shots in his last six holes, including a double bogey on the short 15th.

Ireland's defending champion Padraig Harrington, who came from seven back with a closing 63 last year to beat Vijay Singh and Joe Ogilvie in a play-off, finished with a 74 for 16th place.