Mathias Gronberg fended off favourite Colin Montgomerie to win

Sweden's Mathias Gronberg held off the challenge of European Ryder Cup star Colin Montgomerie to win the Italian Open by two strokes.

Gronberg carded a final round seven-under-par 65, a stroke off the course record.

And, although it was matched by Montgomerie and Spain's Jose Manuel Lara, it was enough to ensure his fourth European Tour title.

Overnight leader Argentine Ricardo Gonzalez struggled with a final round 70 for a share of second place.

Montgomerie had gone into the event as favourite and opened his final round in stunning fashion with a birdie at the second and an eagle at the third.

But, despite adding four further birdies on the back nine and not dropping a shot, he failed to push the unflappable Gronberg.

The 33-year-old Swede slipped up just once during his final round, carding a bogey on the par-three 11th.

He picked up �135,000 for victory as well as his weight in Grana Padano cheese.

Despite finishing second, Montgomerie insisted he had been boosted by his final day's play.

The Scot said: "A 65 today has given me a lot of confidence to go into the three big tournaments coming up at home.

"I entered to get some confidence and I did that. I'd lost my confidence in America for two months."