I t was billed as England's 'Duel in the Sun' between Luke Donald and Justin Rose but Paul Lawrie did his very best to throw a Saltire into the works as the BMW PGA Championship drew to a conclusion at Wentworth last night.

While Donald eventually ambled to victory, and completed a successful defence of the European Tour's flagship event, Lawrie's remarkable renaissance continued as he compiled a best-of-the-day six-under 66 to charge into a share of second with Rose (70) on an 11-under 277. The Aberdonian's final-day thrust left him four shots adrift of the triumphant Donald but the manner of his performance, burnished by craft and a steely competitive instinct, illustrated once again all of Lawrie's abundant qualities. Now up to second on the European Ryder Cup points list, this was another huge step towards Medinah and a return to the transatlantic tussle for the first time in 13 years.

For Donald, the victory was never really in doubt once he had recovered from an early stumble and he staved off the menacing advances of both Lawrie and Rose with the kind of confident, composed, relentlessly consistent performance that is a hallmark of his game. "I did feel a bit of tension early on, though," he later admitted.

A closing 68, for a 15-under 273 handed him a cheque for £599,027 as became only the third player, after Nick Faldo and Colin Montgomerie to retain the crown. It was also the first time he had successfully defended a title.

Importantly, in the wake of Rory McIlroy missing the cut, the 34-year-old's success, his sixth in the last 15 months, ensured his return to the top of the world rankings. He needed only a top-eight finish anyway but you might as well do it in style. Now what about that so far elusive major? "I think I have the ability," he said, looking ahead to the US Open in three weeks time. "Every time I win it adds to my confidence. Winning one would satisfy some of my critics, but the goal is to win more than one and hopefully that will happen. This is the first time I've defended a title and it's a special one to win. It means a lot."

Following an expletive-ridden rant about the lack of moisture in the greens from course re-designer Ernie Els on Saturday – he did issue an apology yesterday – the well-watered putting surfaces were far more receptive for the closing day's play. Donald, though, had an uncharacteristic slip-up when he three-putted the fourth to lose the outright lead to playing partner Rose, who recovered from a bogey at the second with a brace of birdies at three and four.

It was only a temporary blip, however. Birdie putts of 14 and 18 feet at six and seven upped the ante and Donald made another telling blow on the 10th to increase his advantage. With Rose plugged in the sand on the 16th, Donald effectively gilded the lily with another birdie to stretch the lead to five. "After the fourth I didn't give him [Rose] another hole where he was teeing off first other than the 18th," added Donald. "I got the job done."

Lawrie, meanwhile, was certainly robust in his assault. Six off the pace with a round to play, the Scot, who also finished joint second back in 1996, holed a 12-footer for eagle on four and made further gains and six, 11 and 12 as the momentum gathered pace. That surge would be halted by a drive into the trees on 13 which spawned a bogey but birdies at 17 and 18 set the seal on another superb campaign. It shows the measure of Lawrie's lofty standards that he felt the round could've been even better.

"I missed a few putts out there and maybe it should've been a few less," he said. "But that's typical me, still moaning. It's a huge tournament for the Ryder Cup and if you miss the cut here then people will go by you on the points list. To come here and finish second is a huge step forward. There's a long way to go but it's a step forward."

So Donald took the ultimate honours but what of Montgomerie, the last man to make a successful defence of the PGA crown in 2000 when he claimed a hat trick of titles over this happy hunting ground? The 48-year-old, who shared seventh place last season, trudged in with the shoulders at half mast after an debris-strewn 81, his worst score since an 83 in the 2010 US PGA Championship, left him last of the 72 players who made the cut on a 14-over 302.

As Monty slumped away, the galleries were preparing to hail Donald, the new King of the West course.