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Monty back in the Winner's Circle |
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The eight-time European number one shot a five-under-par closing 65 at the K Club to take the lead at 11-under, then faced an anxious 82-minute wait as storms swept over the course.
On the resumption, Swede Niclas Fasth needed to birdie the par-three 18th to force a play-off, but pulled his 15-foot birdie try a couple of inches right of the hole.
Swede Peter Hanson and Danish third-round leader Soren Hansen both needed a clutch of birdies over the closing holes to deny the Scot his £400,000 winner's cheque and unsurprisingly neither was able to do it.
It was Monty's first win at the K Club, just across the Liffey from where he celebrated leading Europe to Ryder Cup glory last September, although he has won three Irish Opens.
The victory also makes the 43-year-old the most prolific British or Irish winner on the European Tour, overhauling Nick Faldo with 31 titles. It will also remove the bad memories of last week's French Open when he led by two shots on the back nine and had to settle for a share of third after an uncharacteristically poor finish.
But all that will pale into insignificance if he can take this form to Carnoustie and finally end his wait for a maiden major championship.
"Any champion sounds good to me. After nearly two years of a dry spell it's fantastic for me," he told Sky Sports.
"This was a very, very important win. You wonder if it is ever going to happen again and I am so glad it has. That is 31 wins now, one above Nick Faldo and that means a lot to me - someone I have respected for so many years."
Sky Sports - 8th July 2007 |
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