Colin Montgomerie could
not produce the high quality golf he wanted but still clinched
his seventh successive European number one title on Sunday --
courtesy of Tiger Woods.
World number one Woods beat Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain in
a playoff to snatch the Valderrama World Championship and a $1
million prize, guaranteeing Montgomerie's continued reign at the
top in Europe.
Despite a four-over-par 75 in the final round that left him
sharing 20th place, Montgomerie's success was richly deserved,
if not for what he did this week, then certainly for what he
achieved this year.
Yet Montgomerie, after winning six titles on the European
Tour this year, was upset it had all come down to one tournament
even though he led by almost 411,000 pounds ($673,928) entering
this event.
"This tournament makes a mockery of our Tour. A tour of 38
weeks should not come down to one week at the end. It's a
shame," the Scot said.
"I have had my best year ever -- and I wasn't safe. I
haven't been under such stress in a long time.
"We should look at the situation and not let it happen
again. It's an administration problem.
"We beat our brains out to win the British PGA, the Benson
and Hedges and Loch Lomond and for what. One event that counts
for far too much in the big picture for our Tour."
However, Montgomerie was thrilled to land his seventh number
one spot and credited it to his ambition and the support of his
family and his management team.
"It's not that I want so much to win it. I just don't want
anyone else to win it," he said.
And despite being ranked third in the world, he plans to
improve.
"I've got to sort my putting out. I don't hole out well
enough. I have to find a technique and stick to it. That's what
I'll do over the winter. I'll work it out," he said.
Six victories on the European Tour gave Montgomerie a hefty
margin in the money race of 429,562 pounds ($704,482) before the
Volvo Masters, the biggest lead he had ever held before that
event in his seven years as Europe's top-ranked player.
This year the Volvo Masters at Montecastillo was not the
climactic event of other years because of the addition of the
new Valderrama World Championship to the calendar.
With his focus already on Valderrama, Montgomerie played
poorly at Montecastillo and his joint 16th place finish saw his
money lead dwindle to a mere 410,900 pounds ($673,928).
After a respectable opening 70 on Thursday, Montgomerie
could only manage a one-over-par 72 in Friday's second round in
gentle conditions which helped produce a clutch of low scores.
Another 72 on Saturday left him marooned down the field and
when he bogeyed the third, fifth and seventh holes on Sunday, it
was absolutlely clear he could not win the Order of Merit title
the way he planned, by winning the tournament.
But neither could his main rivals, England's Lee Westwood nor Spaniard Sergio Garcia, and Montgomerie was home and dry.
