Monty on song with stunning final round

COLIN MONTGOMERIE admitted he felt an enormous sense of relief after storming to his first European Tour title in 16 months in the Caltex Masters in Singapore.

Montgomerie overturned a four-shot overnight deficit with a stunning final round of 65 at Laguna National, claiming his 28th career victory with a 16 under par total and three-stroke victory over American Greg Hanrahan.

The former European number one collected the first prize of £83,598 and will also qualify for the forthcoming Players Championship at Sawgrass by moving back into the top 50 in the world rankings.

The 40-year-old failed to win an event in Europe last year for the first time in more than a decade, his last tour title coming when he controversially shared the Volvo Masters with Bernhard Langer in November 2002.

"This means an awful lot to me, it means confidence. I lost it last year and I have it back now," said Montgomerie. "I know I can do this and I can keep doing this.

"I know I am good enough to perform and it's always nice when you prove that to yourself. I hadn't won on the European Tour for almost a year-and-a-half and it's a long time.

"There is a sense of relief to win as well. Finishing in the top 10 is okay but to win is slightly different and it's nice to go back up the rankings because I was falling rapidly and hopefully now I'll get into all the tournaments I have taken for granted for so long.

"To score 67 and 65 at the weekend I knew I needed at least 65 today is more satisfying than winning, believe it or not. To have a number in mind and go out and achieve it is very, very satisfying. I was only one under after the first round and lying 37th, so it's nice to get a victory after that."

Hanrahan said he was 'very, very pleased with finishing second'. "This gives me a little bit of money in the bank and now maybe I can start to play better golf, more consistent," he said.