Gary Orr became the sixth multiple winner on the European Tour this season when he went head to head with fellow Scotsman Colin Montgomerie in front of record crowds at Woburn Golf and Country Club and emerged victorious in the Victor Chandler British Masters by two shots.
The 33 year old Surrey-based golfer fired a final round of 70 for a 21 under par total of 267, beating Per-Ulrik Johansson (67) into second place on 269 with Montgomerie (71) third on 270.
It was Orr’s second success of his career – and the 2000 season - following his breakthrough victory in the Algarve Portuguese Open in February. The prestigious nature of the tournament and the fact that he took on reigning European No.1 at close quarters simply added to the sense of accomplishment.
Orr, who trimmed a shot off the record for the Duke’s Course by shooting a marvellous ten under par 62 in the second round, led after 36 and 54 holes but with Montgomerie beginning the last round in devastating birdie-birdie fashion, his resolute play and steely determination was called into play.
He said: “It wasn’t easy. Colin is a tough competition and he got off to such a great start that I was pegged back and tied for the lead after just two holes. I didn’t let it unnerve me because there’s nothing you can do about it. I can only play my own game and try to blank out what he he’s doing and focus on my own game. I’m glad to come out on top at the end.”
Orr, who overtook first round leader Montgomerie – who opened with an eight under par 64 – midway through the second day thanks to that record-breaking 62, added: “It’s the first time I’ve been out in front so it was difficult. Sometimes it’s hard to follow up a really low round, but everything happened for me at the right times this week and I felt good. You can never be sure you are going to win but I felt things were going for me.”
The last time Orr won at Woburn it was 13 years ago as an amateur. He collected the Prince of Wales Trophy, a golf bag and a wooden-headed driver. This time victory was worth the considerable sum of 220,703 euro (£133,330) and moved Orr into seventh place on the Volvo Order of Merit table behind Lee Westwood. He now heads to the United States for his debuts in the US PGA and WGC-NEC Invitational.
Johansson closed with a 67 for second place on 269, two behind Orr. It was the Swede’sa highest finish of the year and he said: “It’s good to be up there and playing good golf again. I missed that nervous feeling in the stomach on Sunday afternoons so it was nice to have the chance to contend again.”
Montgomerie, three ahead with a round to play last year, eventually had to settle for second behind Bob May. This year he finished third after shooting a 71 despite that blistering start. It felt the Scot feeling distinctly dissatisfied before heading for the US PGA at Valhalla.
“I didn’t play well” he commented. “The longest putt I holed was from six feet at the first and it’s not good enough really. It’s the same old story, I’m afraid. I started birdie, birdie and played the next 16 holes in one over par. That’s very poor for someone of my calibre. A poor day.”
Zimbabwean Mark McNulty, who started with a pair of 65s to trail Orr by just one shot at halfway, carded a final 70 for fourth place with May put up a stout defence of his title with a tie for fifth alongside two more Scots in Andrew Coltart and Paul Lawrie.
A record total of 41,925 spectators thronged the superb Woburn venue, with 15,390 – also a record – enjoying the warm weather and even hotter golf on the final day.
A final 68 proved vital for past Masters champion Ian Woosnam. His total of 275, 13 under par, for a share of 11th place enabled him to move into 12th place in the qualifying table for the WGC-NEC Invitational at Akron, Ohio, next week.
The leading 12 players, who are eligible for the European Ryder Cup team from the Volvo Order of merit at the conclusion of the Victor Chandler British Masters qualified for the event. They are: Lee Westwood, Darren Clarke, Colin Montgomerie, Thomas Björn, Gary Orr, Miguel Angel Jiménez, Padraig Harrington, Phillip Price, José Maria Olazábal, Andrew Coltart, Paul McGinley, Ian Woosnam.
