Dubai: Any combination other than Rory McIlroy winning and Luke Donald finishing outside the top nine at this weekend's season-ending Dubai World Championship, would crown current World No.1 Donald with an historic European and US money-list double.

It's a feat previously only achieved in a single career by South Africa's Gary Player and Australia's Greg Norman, but it's never been accomplished in the same season, until now.

Order of Merit

Gary Player won the US PGA Tour Order of Merit in 1961 before cementing Europe's top-spot a decade later. Meanwhile Norman managed three US merit wins in 1986, 1990 and 1995, only tucking in a European Tour money-list win in 1982. But now Donald stands to overshadow both achievements with a memorable end to 2011.

Having overcome the death of his father two days before the birth of his second child in November, Donald, 33, who won the US money-list in October, comes into this final encounter knowing the odds for European supremacy are stacked well and truly in his favour. But he's also at his most reflective and philosophical should McIlroy rip up the script.

Despite the fact World No.2 McIlroy, 22, Donald's only challenger for the crown and winner of last weekend's Hong Kong Open, enters with severe fatigue, Donald knows with a margin of just €789,788.60 (Dh3,894,780) and €922,645 going to the winner, he can't relax.

Late surge

Donald said of McIlroy's late surge and his own leave of absence, which has created this climactic finale: "It would be nice to be sitting on the beach right now with a cocktail in my hand and not worrying about it too much. But that's not really my nature.

"I think it's important for me for this event that it's not an anticlimax that I'm not the only one that has a chance. It's focused my attention to do what I do, and go up there and try and compete and win this event.

"I've got to try not to worry about Rory. Fortunately, I've almost got 58 other people on my side, if any one of those win, they are doing me a favour. But again my mindset is really to go out there and try to win the event and take care of business that way."

'No one's officially done it'

Donald said of the likelihood of a double: "It's just history. No one's officially done it ever before. I think that's pretty amazing. It's not easy to travel as much as you do playing both tours - but I've managed to do that. If it all works out on Sunday that will be my biggest accomplishment - it speaks [volumes] of my consistency this year."

Overall Donald has had three wins and nine top tens in Europe and two wins with 13 top tens in the US from a combined total of 29 outings.

"I've had a tremendous year, and I'm excited about the next. I'm excited about playing the next four Majors. I think I'm a different player this year because of all the victories. I feel more confident. Hopefully I can bring that game to the Majors. I would love to win one.

"There's no coincidence between my success on the golf course and the birth of my first child. I think becoming a father really helped me as a golfer. I was able to let go of mistakes. They didn't seem as important to me - it puts thing into perspective that I'm going to try my hardest at golf. But if it doesn't work out, so be it. I've got a healthy family at home and that's the most important thing."

"It's been very tough [the death of his father]. I think the birth of my second daughter spread a little grace on the situation. It was not easy, but I was able to concentrate my efforts on a new life and my kids and family, made everything a little bit closer."