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Scotland wins World Cup of Golf
Scotland's Montgomerie and Marc Warren defeated Boo Weekley and Heath Slocum of the United States on the third playoff hole on Sunday to win the Golf WC.
- Associated Press
- Updated: November 26, 2007 04:16 PM IST
Read Time:3 min
Shenzhen, China:
The victory at the Mission Hills Golf Club made up for Scotland's loss last year in a one-hole playoff against Germany's Bernhard Langer and Marcel Siem.
A par on the third playoff hole was good enough for the Scots after Weekley missed a 15-foot putt trying to save par.
"There was pressure to come back after a playoff loss like we did last year, which was disappointing," Montgomerie said. "Superb. We look forward to coming back and trying to defend."
It was Scotland's first victory in an event that dates for 1953, and another trophy for Montgomerie, the eight-time European Number 1.
The Americans forced the playoff on the last regulation hole when Slocum dropped a 5-foot birdie putt. On the first playoff hole, he missed a 7-foot birdie attempt that would have won it.
Seconds before that, Warren dropped a clutch 12-footer to save par. A miss would have handed the event to the Americans.
On the second playoff hole, both teams narrowly missed birdie attempts - Weekley from 20 feet and Warren from 12.
Weekley's approach shot on the final playoff hole was short of the green, and Slocum's chip left his teammate with a difficult putt to prolong the match.
Scotland finished regulation with a 6-under 66 on the 7,251-yard Olazabal Course to end on 25-under 263.
The United States shot 67 after the long-time Florida friends led after each of the first three rounds.
Rounds Sunday were played using the more difficult foursomes (alternate-shot) format.
France's Gregory Havret and Raphael Jacquelin carded a 67 to finish one behind the two leaders. England's Ian Poulter and Justin Rose - the pre-tournament favorites - also shot 67 and were two off the pace. South Africa finished four back after a 69.
Four teams were five behind: Germany, Argentina, Sweden and the Netherlands.
Montgomerie and Warren seemed to have won the event outright with an eagle-3 on No. 15, which moved Scotland to 25-under and a two-shot lead over the United States.
Tied with the Americans at 23 under, Montgomerie drilled a long iron to 6 feet, and his partner dropped the eagle putt. That hole proved to be the difference.
But Slocum got the Americans within one shot with a 10-foot birdie putt on 15, setting the stage on 18. His putts on those holes made up for a 2-footer he missed for birdie on Number 9.
The Americans reached 23 under with four birdies in five holes on the front nine - the last two on Number 6 and Number 7 with key putts by Slocum.
But they scrambled after that.
The Americans missed a chance to go 24 under when Slocum's 2-foot birdie lipped out at No. 9. On 12, Weekley made a key 10-foot putt to save par and, on 13, Slocum missed a 15-footer for birdie.
The World Cup, which has a long history with winners like Palmer, Nicklaus, Snead and Hogan, has struggled in recent year to gain traction.
Weekley was invited to play only after 13 other higher-ranked American players declined.
Weekley, Number 43 in the world rankings, then invited his high-school friend from the Florida Panhandle to join him.
Scotland's Colin Montgomerie and Marc Warren defeated Boo Weekley and Heath Slocum of the United States on the third playoff hole on Sunday to win the World Cup of Golf in southern China.The victory at the Mission Hills Golf Club made up for Scotland's loss last year in a one-hole playoff against Germany's Bernhard Langer and Marcel Siem.
A par on the third playoff hole was good enough for the Scots after Weekley missed a 15-foot putt trying to save par.
"There was pressure to come back after a playoff loss like we did last year, which was disappointing," Montgomerie said. "Superb. We look forward to coming back and trying to defend."
It was Scotland's first victory in an event that dates for 1953, and another trophy for Montgomerie, the eight-time European Number 1.
The Americans forced the playoff on the last regulation hole when Slocum dropped a 5-foot birdie putt. On the first playoff hole, he missed a 7-foot birdie attempt that would have won it.
Seconds before that, Warren dropped a clutch 12-footer to save par. A miss would have handed the event to the Americans.
On the second playoff hole, both teams narrowly missed birdie attempts - Weekley from 20 feet and Warren from 12.
Weekley's approach shot on the final playoff hole was short of the green, and Slocum's chip left his teammate with a difficult putt to prolong the match.
Scotland finished regulation with a 6-under 66 on the 7,251-yard Olazabal Course to end on 25-under 263.
The United States shot 67 after the long-time Florida friends led after each of the first three rounds.
Rounds Sunday were played using the more difficult foursomes (alternate-shot) format.
France's Gregory Havret and Raphael Jacquelin carded a 67 to finish one behind the two leaders. England's Ian Poulter and Justin Rose - the pre-tournament favorites - also shot 67 and were two off the pace. South Africa finished four back after a 69.
Four teams were five behind: Germany, Argentina, Sweden and the Netherlands.
Montgomerie and Warren seemed to have won the event outright with an eagle-3 on No. 15, which moved Scotland to 25-under and a two-shot lead over the United States.
Tied with the Americans at 23 under, Montgomerie drilled a long iron to 6 feet, and his partner dropped the eagle putt. That hole proved to be the difference.
But Slocum got the Americans within one shot with a 10-foot birdie putt on 15, setting the stage on 18. His putts on those holes made up for a 2-footer he missed for birdie on Number 9.
The Americans reached 23 under with four birdies in five holes on the front nine - the last two on Number 6 and Number 7 with key putts by Slocum.
But they scrambled after that.
The Americans missed a chance to go 24 under when Slocum's 2-foot birdie lipped out at No. 9. On 12, Weekley made a key 10-foot putt to save par and, on 13, Slocum missed a 15-footer for birdie.
The World Cup, which has a long history with winners like Palmer, Nicklaus, Snead and Hogan, has struggled in recent year to gain traction.
Weekley was invited to play only after 13 other higher-ranked American players declined.
Weekley, Number 43 in the world rankings, then invited his high-school friend from the Florida Panhandle to join him.
Topics mentioned in this article
Golf
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