Montgomerie on form

It took a miraculous shot by Colin Montgomerie to ensure his second European Tour victory in the space of three weeks in the Lancome Trophy in Paris yesterday.

Montgomerie - the winner of the German Masters two weeks ago - was faced with a 30-yard downhill chip on hard ground at the last hole which he could not afford to fluff if he was to beat Sam Torrance. He hit his sand wedge to within three feet of the hole and, even though Torrance sank a six-foot putt for a birdie two, Montgomerie coolly sank his own putt to win with an aggregate total of 269, 11 under par.

Montgomerie said: "I could have hit 100 balls and not got it as close. It was a miraculous shot, the best I've hit all week."

Torrance shot a 69, but lost valuable ground on Montgomerie in the race to finish top of the Order of Merit. Montgomerie now stands pounds 63,000 ahead of Torrance.

It was a good day for the European Ryder Cup team captain Bernard Gallagher as not only did the two Scots prove their form, but another member of his side, David Gilford, finished with a seven-under-par 63 to come third, two behind Montgomerie.

The only doubt is whether Jose-Maria Olazabal will be fit enough to play. He limped round on his bad right foot for a 73, which left him in joint 26th place. He will decide today if he makes the trip.

Scores, Sporting Digest, page 21