World number one Luke Donald has been awarded the Golf Writers' Trophy following a successful year.

The Englishman clinched the top of the money lists in America and Europe as well as being named the European Tour Golfer of the Year and the PGA Tour Player of the Year.

"Any award gives you a great amount of pleasure and for the golf writers to consider me as their player of the year means a lot," The Express quotes Donald as saying.

"These are the people who really understand golf and appreciate all that I have achieved this year," said Donald, who will receive the trophy during the Open Championship at Lytham in July.

"All the people in the running for the award – Rory, Darren, the Solheim Cup team and the Walker Cup team – would have been worthy winners and therefore it is very gratifying to get the vote ahead of all of them. That means an awful lot to me."

Donald will be given the trophy in Lytham during the Open Championship next July.