SOTOGRANDE, Spain, 31 October 2005 — Colin Montomerie duly wrapped up his record eighth European Order of Merit title here yesterday, but blew his chances of winning the Volvo Masters after an error-strewn final round.
That honor went to Ireland’s Paul McGinley who followed his superb 65 on Saturday with a bogey-free 67 to steal in for a two-stroke victory over Sergio Garcia. It was the biggest win of the 39-year-old Dubliner’s career.
New Zealander Michael Campbell, the only player at the start of the day who could have prevented Montgomerie from winning the tour title, never threatened coming in with a disappointing 72.
Montgomerie’s Order of Merit win caps a magnificent comeback year for the Scot who fell as low as 83rd in the world rankings in the spring before revitalizing his career following a second place finish at the British Open in July. It comes six years after he won his last tour title in 1999 at the end of an unprecedented seven-in-a-row run.
Montgomerie said that after an emotional past year, winning the Order of Merit for a record eighth time was a huge tonic.
“All credit to Paul McGinley for winning, but I had my own Volvo Masters to win today — and I did that,” said the Scot whose victory chances were dented when he dropped crucial shots at the end of Saturday’s round.
Montgomerie started the day tied for the lead at 10 under alongside Garcia and a big crowd turned up at the Valderrama Golf Course expecting an enthralling tussle between the two Ryder Cup team-mates.
Thaworn Wiratchant Wins
Indian Open Title
In New Delhi, Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand won the US$300,000 Hero Honda Indian Open by two strokes yesterday on the par-72, 6,802-yard Delhi Golf Club course.
Thaworn, who started the day with a three-stroke lead, carded a safe two-under 70 for an aggregate of 16-under 272 to finish two strokes ahead of Indian veteran Gaurav Ghei.
It was the third title of the year for Thaworn, the Asian Tour order of merit leader.
Ghei, tied eighth after the third round, carded the day’s best score of a six-under 66 to take the second spot, a stroke ahead of Thailand’s Prom Meesawat and South Africa’s Hendrik Buhrmann.
Lee in Breakthrough LPGA Win
In Jeju, South Korea, South Korea’s Lee Jee-young won her first LPGA tournament yesterday, closing with a 1-over-par 73 for a wire-to-wire, three-stroke win over compatriot Kim Mi-hyun and Carin Koch of Sweden at the Nine Bridges Classic. Lee finished with a 5-under-par total of 211 despite three straight bogeys from the 15th at The Club. Top-ranked Annika Sorenstam finished nine strokes back of Lee in a share of 13th place after a final round 2-under 70. Sorenstam was never a threat after 75s in her first two rounds. Lee became the fourth South Korean player in as many years to win the tournament.
