Paul McGinley clinches title with flawless 67

Ireland's Paul McGinley pulled off the biggest win of his 14-year European Tour career when he came from four strokes off the lead overnight to win the Volvo Masters on Sunday.

McGinley's flawless closing four-under-par 67 for a 10-under-par 274 four-round total was two strokes better than Spain's Sergio Garcia.

Colin Montgomerie, after leading for three rounds, finished a further stroke back with fellow-Briton Luke Donald and Jose Maria Olazabal of Spain.

But Montgomerie comfortably won the European Tour's order of merit for an eighth time.

The 42-year-old Scot finished four strokes ahead of his only rival Michael Campbell, who he had led on the money-list coming into the final event of the season.

McGinley, renowned as the man who sank the winning putt to beat the U.S. in the 2002 Ryder Cup, had under-achieved before his $800,000 win on Sunday, taking only three titles.

A combination of his faultless play, though, and mistakes over the opening nine holes by third round leaders Garcia and Montgomerie, ended a four-year wait for a fourth victory for 39-year-old Dubliner.

With Montgomerie out in three-over 38, including a double-bogey at the seventh after trouble in the trees, and Garcia two-over for the first nine, McGinley, two-under for his front nine, took control and never looked back.

Montgomerie, winner of seven order of merit titles between 1993 and 1999, said: "The others became almost expected in the end. This one is very, very special."

McGinley came from four-over-par after the first five holes of the second round to finally become a major player on the European Tour.

"I had come close to winning three big titles this year and it didn't happen," said McGinley. "That made me more determined, and to win against a class field like this is a great feeling.

"The way my game has improved this year, I knew it was coming."

McGinley could not measure his biggest success with his winning putt in the Ryder Cup, though.

"You can't compare the two. This was a selfish win; this was a win for Paul McGinley."

After winning the order of merit by 297,953 euros Montgomerie said: "After a six-year gap, to come back and do it again means my game has not gone. It's improved and that means a bunch to me. This has been the toughest.

"Between '93-'99, I won when players like Nick Faldo and Seve Ballesteros were not on top of their games but now I've had to compete with guys who were at the top of their games."

Campbell, who closed with a 72 to finish seven shots behind McGinley in 14th place said: "It was fun but it was disappointing in the end.

"I've had a great year and it would have been nice to top it off. But all credit to Monty. He played well over the last half of the season. I'll get him next year."

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