Monty wins first US Senior Tour event in Japan moves up to eighth in money list
CHIBA, Japan (AP) -- Colin Montgomerie made all the putts he needed Sunday on Narita Golf Club's massive greens to win the Japan Airlines Championship - the first US PGA (Senior)Tour Champions event in Japan.
The 54-year-old Scot two-putted for par from 50 feet on the par-4 18th, hitting his first to 1 1/2 feet, for a 5-under 67 and a one-stroke victory over Billy Mayfair and second-round leader Scott McCarron.
"The greens were as good as any, and I mean this, as good as any as we have ever putted on, ever," Montgomerie said. "And we've putted on some great, great surfaces. In the 30 years as a pro, these are as good as any we have putted on. And the way the course was manicured was exceptional."
Montgomerie finished at 14-under 202 for his fifth victory on the 50-and-over tour but his first in nearly a year. He won 31 times on the European Tour and topped the tour's money list a record eight times - seven in a row from 1993-99 and the last in 2005.
"It's a big deal, a very big deal," Montgomerie said about tour's first visit to Japan. "And let's hope that the success of this event goes forward and not only allows the US PGA Tour Champions to come back and compete but also allows the US PGA Tour to come and play here. It will be fantastic if that time ever comes."
Montgomerie ran in a 60-footer on the par-4 13th in the middle of a three-hole birdie spree, and made two key 6-foot putts - the first for par on the par-3 16th and the second for birdie on the par-5 17th to break a tie for the lead with Mayfair.
"I think when I holed the putt on the 14th hole for my third birdie in a row, I felt that I had a chance then," Montgomerie said. "I'm a big scoreboard watcher and knew I was leading. I just had to make sure I birdied 17 and par in, which I did."
Monty's win moved him up from No 23 to No 8 in the Charles Schwab Money list with $954,394 for the season.
Sidelined 2 1/2 months in the spring by torn ligaments in his left ankle, Montgomerie won for the first time since beating McCarron late last September in a play-off in Canada in the Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship -- a title he will try to defend this coming week in Victoria, British Columbia.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 Players from USA unless stated otherwise
202 Colin Montgomerie (Scotland) 69 66 67.
203 Billy Mayfair 67 70 66, Scott McCarron 66 66 71
204 Glen Day 65 72 67
205 Jesper Parnevik (Sweden) 70 68 67
CHIBA, Japan (AP) -- Colin Montgomerie made all the putts he needed Sunday on Narita Golf Club's massive greens to win the Japan Airlines Championship - the first US PGA (Senior)Tour Champions event in Japan.
The 54-year-old Scot two-putted for par from 50 feet on the par-4 18th, hitting his first to 1 1/2 feet, for a 5-under 67 and a one-stroke victory over Billy Mayfair and second-round leader Scott McCarron.
"The greens were as good as any, and I mean this, as good as any as we have ever putted on, ever," Montgomerie said. "And we've putted on some great, great surfaces. In the 30 years as a pro, these are as good as any we have putted on. And the way the course was manicured was exceptional."
Montgomerie finished at 14-under 202 for his fifth victory on the 50-and-over tour but his first in nearly a year. He won 31 times on the European Tour and topped the tour's money list a record eight times - seven in a row from 1993-99 and the last in 2005.
"It's a big deal, a very big deal," Montgomerie said about tour's first visit to Japan. "And let's hope that the success of this event goes forward and not only allows the US PGA Tour Champions to come back and compete but also allows the US PGA Tour to come and play here. It will be fantastic if that time ever comes."
Montgomerie ran in a 60-footer on the par-4 13th in the middle of a three-hole birdie spree, and made two key 6-foot putts - the first for par on the par-3 16th and the second for birdie on the par-5 17th to break a tie for the lead with Mayfair.
"I think when I holed the putt on the 14th hole for my third birdie in a row, I felt that I had a chance then," Montgomerie said. "I'm a big scoreboard watcher and knew I was leading. I just had to make sure I birdied 17 and par in, which I did."
Monty's win moved him up from No 23 to No 8 in the Charles Schwab Money list with $954,394 for the season.
Sidelined 2 1/2 months in the spring by torn ligaments in his left ankle, Montgomerie won for the first time since beating McCarron late last September in a play-off in Canada in the Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship -- a title he will try to defend this coming week in Victoria, British Columbia.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 Players from USA unless stated otherwise
202 Colin Montgomerie (Scotland) 69 66 67.
203 Billy Mayfair 67 70 66, Scott McCarron 66 66 71
204 Glen Day 65 72 67
205 Jesper Parnevik (Sweden) 70 68 67
Labels: Pro seniors
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Sunday, September 10, 2017
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