Golf: Montgomerie mines $1m in the desert

Colin Montgomerie survived a few late scares to beat Davis Love by two holes in the 36-hole final of the Andersen Consulting World Championship in Scottsdale, Arizona.

The win earned the Scot $1m (pounds 660,000) and he can now sit back and enjoy the benefits of his latest big-money bonanza before returning to action in Dubai after a month's break.

Montgomerie finished the first 18 holes one up after twice going behind in the opening exchanges. At that stage he was happy to be in front but far from satisfied with his overall performance. "I don't think either of us played to our potential but it was always going to be very close," he said.

Europe's No 1 kept hold of that slender advantage over the first 10 holes of the second round before hitting Love with three winning holes out of the next four.

The path looked clear for Montgomerie to cruise home - lying four up with four holes to play. However, the partisan crowd were given hope of a home victory as Love took the next three holes. Yet the Scot's nerve held and a superb second shot at the par-five 18th sealed the issue. His ball lay snugly in the middle of the green as Love missed an eagle putt and conceded victory.

"It was a great game," Montgomerie said. "I always thought it would be close, although not that close at four up with four to play. Davis hit back with marvellous birdies at 15 and 16 and then I gave him 17 to send it down to the wire.

"But the second on 18 was marvellous. I would have been delighted with that shot in a practice round, never mind the pressure that was on at the time.

"When you lose three on the trot you start to worry about pushing it this way or that way - but I'm glad I hit the green."