| Paris,
France, 28th June 1998 - Sam
Torrance, a last-minute entrant in this tournament, birdied the final two holes
today to capture the £500,000 Peugeot Open de France for his first victory in
three years. "I
always knew I'd win again," said Torrance, who shed a tear as he hoisted
the trophy. "It was the emotion of winning again after three years. "I'm
strong and fit and young at heart and I may just go on to win a few more."
The 44-year-old
Scotsman broke a logjam on the leader board with his strong finish, closing with
a 2-under-par 70 for a total of 12-under 276. It was his 21st title in a 28-year
career. His
£83,330 victory cheque was his first since his British Masters win three years
ago. He is 14th on the European money list and is almost certain to gain an exemption
into this summer's Open Championship. Five
men shared the lead before Torrance hit a 7-wood within a foot of the cup on the
17th. At the par-5 18th, almost a full island-hole, Torrance, needing a par, hit
a clean 8-iron from light rough. The ball held and he two-putted for victory.
Italy's Massimo
Florioli and France's Olivier Edmond finished with 67s to share second at 278.
Also at 278 were Germany's Bernhard Langer (69) and Australia's Mathew Goggin
(70). Spain's
Pedro Linhart faltered with bogeys at the last two holes and was at 279, as with
France's Marc Farry (69). Colin
Montgomerie, who sank a curving, 65-foot eagle putt at the 18th, his second of
the day, had a 68 for a 283. The Scot faced jeering galleries at the previous
week's U.S. Open. "It's
obviously been a disappointing week, but I've been encouraged by the dozens of
supportive E-mail messages I've received, particularly from the States,"
Montgomerie said. "It shows some people out there really care about golf.
" | 
