Darren Clarke has been named as joint-runner up in the Golf Writers Trophy for 2011 after Luke Donald scooped yet another award.
The Open champion and fellow countryman Rory McIlroy were both in second place behind Donald who became the first player to win the money lists on both sides of the Atlantic in the same season.
Clarke has been full of admiration for Donald’s achievements in 2011.
"What Luke Donald has achieved this year is unbelievable. I'm full of admiration for him," he said.
Michael Stewart, who turned professional last week, was another ISM player who also made the top five.
The Troon youngster played a key role in helping the GB&I Walker Cup Team beat America at Royal Aberdeen earlier this year. They were in fifth place behind the Solheim Cup team who also defeated the USA in what has been an amazing year for European golf.
Bill Elliott, chairman of the Association of Golf Writers, said: “We received a record number of votes this year which reflects the range of outstanding achievements by European golfers in 2011. This has been an extraordinary year and left members with an extremely difficult task in assessing their first, second and third place votes.
“Darren Clarke’s triumph at the Open Championship was one of the most popular and emotional victories ever seen, while Rory McIlroy is the most exciting talent in the game whose US Open win was the single most impressive performance of the year.
“But what Luke Donald has achieved over the whole season has been nothing less than superb. He is a class act on the course, but also off it, and he thoroughly deserves all the accolades he has received."
Donald will be presented with the award at Royal Lytham St Annes in July where Clarke defends his Open crown.
"All the people in the running - 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,” Donald said.
Darren was also Runner-Up in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award.
