The ability to perform under pressure and deliver the goods when it matters is what separates the wheat from the chaff.

Goodness knows then what poor old Yang Guang, the male half of Auld Reekie's Giant Panda pair, is thinking as the spotlight of expectation shines upon him ahead of Edinburgh Zoo's eagerly anticipated "three day mating window" (an arduous affair that will be a bit like football's transfer window but without Sky TV's Jim White working himself into a lather).

On Sunday night, Luke Donald once again showed how it's done on the big stage when he got his hands on the Transitions Championship trophy in Florida after emerging triumphant from a four-man play-off.

Needing a victory to barge his way back to the top of the world rankings, having been knocked off his lofty perch by Rory McIlroy a fortnight ago, the 34-year-old, who was three shots off the lead with a round to play, demonstrated the competitive instinct, cutting edge and composure that were hallmarks of his historic 2011 campaign, during which he topped the money lists on both sides of the Atlantic.

Amid the furore that followed McIlroy's ascent to the head of the global order after his win in the Honda Classic at the start of the month, and the salivating that accompanied the "mild strain" to Tiger Woods' Achilles heel at last weekend's WGC Cadillac Championship, the unassuming figure of Donald had been left muddling on in the margins.

Given his start to the season, that was perhaps not surprising. A tie for 48th in Abu Dhabi, a share of 56th in the Northern Trust Open and a first round exit in the WGC Accenture Matchplay Championship – a title he was defending – hardly was an advert for hitting the ground running.

The critics had been preparing to sharpen their knives and Donald knew it. "I think people thought that last year was not a fluke, but you know, I don't think many people thought I could do that all over again," said Donald, who kick-started his campaign with a sixth- place finish in that Cadillac event and has now powered up through the gears. "Hopefully, I can prove them wrong."

As the golfing bandwagon rumbles towards the gates of Magnolia Lane for the Masters next month, Donald's focus will be on plundering that so far elusive major title. Having shared fourth last year, while finishing 10th and third in 2007 and 2005, Augusta is where the Englishman has performed best in the grand slam events.

Yet, as we all know, predicting the outcome of golf is as easy as getting two pandas to shrug off months of bored indifference and embark on the mating process. The only thing predictable is the unpredictability. Donald's Sunday success made him the 13th different winner in the 13 events that have been played on the PGA Tour so far this season.

Across here, Frenchman Julien Quesne rose from relative obscurity to land the Andalucian Open at the weekend and become the ninth different winner in 10 tournaments on the European circuit.

Predicting the winners of a major is even more perilous in these times of increasing strength in depth for the global game. The last two majors were won by players ranked 108th and 111th in the world –Keegan Bradley at August's US PGA Championship and Darren Clarke at the Open in July. Bradley was just 25 and a major debutant at the time of his triumph while grizzly veteran Clarke was 42 and had played in 20 Opens and a total of 54 majors.

The two unlikely lads of Clarke and Bradley became the 12th and 13th different winners of the last 13 majors and, like the five immediately before them, they were hoisting aloft a major trophy for the first time.

Of that magnificent seven, only McIlroy, who romped to the US Open crown last June, was inside the top 10 in the world rankings when he won.

Graeme McDowell, McIlroy's predecessor as US Open champion, was 37th on the global pecking order then it was Louis Oosthuizen (the 2010 Open) at 54th, Martin Kaymer (the 2010 US PGA) at 13th, Charl Schwartzel (the 2011 Masters) at 29th, McIlroy at eight and then the lowly duo of Clarke and Bradley. The last time a major was won by a player at the top of the world rankings was in 2008 when Tiger Woods hirpled to victory in the US Open then missed the remainder of the season following knee surgery.

Donald will now have two weeks off before launching his assault on Augusta National and, after his slow start to the year, he is reaching that peak performance level at precisely the right time. Those who enjoy a flutter will be fully justified in pencilling the Ryder Cup player's name down on their betting slips. But, as recent statistics highlight, gambling on this particular game, like the aforementioned panda palaver, can be a real grope in the dark.