BBC SPORT | GOLF | Marvellous Monty ends title drought

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Colin Montgomerie secured his first tour title for 57 weeks by romping to a five-shot victory in the Murphy's Irish Open at Fota Island, Cork.

The Scot confirmed his return to form with a 66 in his final round for an 18-under-par total.

The former European number one hit eight birdies, one double bogey and a bogey in his final round to win the Irish Open for the third time.

I feel very much at home here - the Irish have taken me to their hearts

Colin Montgomerie

There was further good news for Europe's Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance, as Darren Clarke's renaissance continued with a 64 that earned him a second-placed finish alongside Padraig Harrington and Niclas Fasth.

The Swede hit eight birdies and 10 pars for a brilliant 63 and the lowest round of the day on a day of low scoring in perfect conditions.

And Dane Thomas Bjorn effectively confirmed his place in Europe's Ryder Cup team with a final-round 66 leaving him on 11 under and in fifth place.

Final flourish

But the chasing pack were well adrift of Montgomerie, who secured his win with a birdie at the final hole.

It was not all plain sailing, though.

Darren Clarke in action at Fota Island
Clarke: Back to something close to his best
After birdies at the fourth, fifth and seventh Montgomerie pulled his approach to the 478-yard eighth into water, duffed a chip and had a double bogey six.

A 10-foot birdie putt on the next put the Scot back in total command, however, at 15 under par.

In total, he hit five birdies on a back nine only tarnished by a five at the par-four 12th.

A delighted and relieved Montgomerie said: "I felt very much at home here. The Irish have taken me to their hearts. It was great to come down to Cork.

"I got off to a very good start every day and then had a terrible middle. But to birdie the ninth and 10th was vital. I knew 13 under wasn't good enough. My five under today to win by five was a great result."

Collated final round scores and totals in the Murphy's Irish Open, Fota Island, Cork
GB and Ire unless stated, par 71

266 C Montgomerie 63 69 68 66
271 N Fasth (Swe) 68 71 69 63, P Harrington 67 72 68 64, D Clarke 70 72 65 64
273 T Bjorn (Den) 66 69 72 66
274 R Karlsson (Swe) 71 69 67 67, G Emerson 68 70 67 69, A Scott (Aus) 68 69 66 71
275 S Tinning (Den) 69 68 72 66, I Poulter 69 69 71 66, D Howell 68 70 71 66, B Lane 68 67 72 68, T Levet (Fra) 68 67 72 68, A Coltart 67 71 69 68
276 I Woosnam 73 69 70 64, S Webster 67 71 72 66, J Rose 70 70 69 67, G Brand Jnr 68 69 71 68, A Wall 67 67 71 71
277 I Garbutt 70 71 69 67, G Evans 66 70 73 68, M Farry (Fra) 72 65 71 69, J Senden (Aus) 67 70 71 69, M Mouland 71 70 67 69, M Scarpa (Ita) 67 73 67 70
278 C Pettersson (Swe) 68 72 72 66, P Lonard (Aus) 73 68 71 66, C Pottier (Fra) 70 69 72 67, G Havret (Fra) 69 71 69 69
279 P Price 75 65 73 66, J Berendt (Arg) 68 73 71 67, D Lynn 71 65 75 68, R Russell 71 69 71 68, P Lawrie 71 66 72 70
280 S Kjeldsen (Den) 69 73 72 66, J Lomas 72 70 70 68, G Orr 72 69 70 69, S Leaney (Aus) 71 70 70 69, S Dyson 70 72 69 69, D Robertson 67 70 73 70, J Bickerton 67 72 69 72, I Garrido (Spn) 68 72 68 72, A Beal 70 70 68 72
281 S Dodd 69 72 71 69, C Rocca (Ita) 70 72 70 69, S Lyle 68 72 70 71, P O'Malley (Aus) 71 70 69 71
282 M Lundberg (Swe) 69 72 73 68, H Nystrom (Swe) 70 72 71 69, J-F Remesy (Fra) 69 73 69 71, P McGinley 69 73 66 74, H Bjornstad (Nor) 66 74 67 75, F Henge (Swe) 65 70 70 77
283 P Fowler (Aus) 73 69 70 71, W Bennett 72 67 72 72, S Struver (Ger) 67 74 68 74
284 F Cea (Spn) 70 71 72 71, R Jacquelin (Fra) 68 71 73 72
285 D Lee 70 70 73 72
286 Yeh Wei-tze (Tai) 72 70 75 69, A Oldcorn 73 69 73 71, F Jacobson (Swe) 70 72 70 74
287 E Darcy 65 75 72 75
288 C Rodiles (Spn) 71 71 74 72, R Ballesteros (Spn) 70 71 74 73, E Simsek (Ger) 68 72 73 75
289 T Gogele (Ger) 70 72 72 75, M Bernardini (Ita) 72 70 69 78
291 P Sjoland (Swe) 73 68 70 80
295 G Rankin 70 70 74 81


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