Colin Montgomerie was voted the
European Tour's golfer of the year for the fourth time in five
years on Monday.
A panel of golf writers and Tour officials decided his
achievement in winning the Order of Merit for an unprecedented
seventh time and his efforts in the Ryder Cup in September put
him ahead of British Open winner Paul Lawrie and U.S. Masters
champion Jose Maria Olazabal.
Sergio Garcia, the Spanish teenager, who broke through to
finish runner-up to Tiger Woods in the U.S. PGA Championship,
and Miguel Angel Jimenez were also contenders.
Montgomerie, 36, said: "I'm looking forward to all the
majors next year. I go back to Augusta National now believing I
can win if I putt well.
"The same goes for St Andrews and the Open while Pebble
Beach and the U.S. Open obviously brings back good memories
because I nearly won the U.S. Open there in 1992."
