Montgomerie keeps winning streak alive

Colin Montgomerie extended his record of at least one win every year since 1992 by capturing the Macau Open here yesterday, and the 40-year-old Scot improved his awful play-off record in the process.

Montgomerie beat the Australian Scott Barr at the first extra hole after they had tied on the 11-under-par total of 273. Montgomerie birdied the final hole to force the play-off, then birdied it again to deny Barr.

The seven-time European No 1 has lost seven and halved one of his eight play-offs in Europe, as well as losing the 1994 US Open and the 1995 USPGA in extra holes. Hedid, however, beat Ernie Els for the Million Dollar Challenge in South Africa in 1996. Three behind going into the final round here, Montgomerie shot a closing 68.

"I've had two seconds this year and a win is a win," Montgomerie said. "I managed to make four at the last with a very good bunker shot. It was a nasty shot because I needed to clear the rough and had little green to work with. He [Barr] was favourite because I was in the rough off the tee while he was in the fairway.

"Now I go to the Volvo Masters [in two weeks' time] with renewed confidence. But I've kept the streak alive, but I keep leaving it late."

Montgomerie tied with Bernhard Langer at Valderrama last November for his first win of 2002, then lifted a title in China. He added, however: "I'd rather win in January."

* Jose Maria Olazabal bogeyed the last two holes to concede the Mallorca Classic by a stroke to Miguel Angel Jimenez in the third and final round yesterday. After Jimenez had closed with a 5-under-par 65, Olazabal double-bogeyed the 17th hole and bogeyed the 18th to finish even-par.