Seve inspires narrow European win

Seve Ballesteros produced the shock of the singles on Sunday, beating Britain and Ireland captain Colin Montgomerie 2 and 1 and inspiring Europe to win the inaugural Seve Ballesteros Trophy 13 1/2-12 1/2.

Ballesteros defied the odds and his errant swing to dispose of Montgomerie - 587 places higher than him on the world rankings - in the opening singles.

Lifted by their captain and the man behind the new event, the Europeans went on to clinch the trophy after the teams had been all-square at 8-8 going into the final singles matches.

It was a remarkable success by the world's number 590 over world ranked three as Ballesteros, making regular visits to the Old Course undergrowth, conquered his wayward game.

After an exhilarating start by Ballesteros as the 43-year-old Spaniard birdied three of the first four holes, the best the home captain could do was draw level at the seventh.

It was a brief respite because Ballesteros's birdie on the 11th took him two-up, a position Montgomerie, never at his best on the greens, could not get out of, despite his opponent's frailty off the tee.

Ballesteros has missed all his four cuts in Europe this year and finished last in the U.S. Masters last week so the defeat brought Montgomerie yet another embarrassing head-to-head demise.

It ranked alongside his slips against Paraguayan Raul Fretes (1994) Gurav Ghei of India (1996) and Zhang Lian-Wei (1998) in Dunhill Cup matches.

The winning Spaniard said: "I knew it was going to be difficult to beat Colin because he is a great champion. He's playing well and I haven't been able to play well lately."

Montgomerie admitted: "This was a point we all felt was secure, I have to be honest. We felt 85 per cent that I would win my game.

"But I haven't been getting the ball into the hole all year and you cannot play matchplay golf putting like that, especially against someone of Seve's calibre on the greens."

Buoyed by his captain's example, Sergio Garcia produced two birdies to finish and gained a half against Darren Clarke in a match where he was never ahead.

Jarmo Sandelin then increased Europe's advantage by beating John Bickerton 2 and 1 after going in front only at the 10th, and Europe strengthened their grip as Bernhard Langer overcame Ian Woosnam with a scintillating display, lying seven-under-par when registering a 4 and 3 success.

Britain and Ireland hit back when Lee Westwood won a close encounter against Thomas Bjorn at the last hole, and Phillip Price, also seven-under for his round, beat Alex Cejka 2 and 1.

British Open Champion Paul Lawrie again bettered one of the men he beat in last year's Carnoustie playoff, Jean Van de Velde, 5 and 4, to bring the teams level, but Europe held the upper hand in the remaining matches.

After Robert Karlsson beat David Howell, it was left to Jose Maria Olazabal to chalk up the point which won the first Ballesteros Trophy and Padraig Harrington's narrow win over Miguel Angel Jimenez was academic.

Ballesteros was modest in victory, saying: "I think just one point difference shows the potential of both teams.

"It was just a matter of luck and it was the luck of the Europeans this time. I thought we saw great golf this week and the real winner was the game of golf."

Montgomerie added: "It has been a celebration of European golf. It's only a shame we didn't bring it off but the success of the Ryder Cup has been because it's close."