Casey holds off chasing pack

European and US tours: Paul Casey, unrecognisable from the golfer who was in the middle of a nightmare slump this time last year, held off Colin Montgomerie and the rest of the chasing pack to win the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles yesterday.

Back at the scene of his maiden European Tour win in 2001 - his rookie season as a professional - Casey survived what he called a "nerve-racking" closing stretch after it looked as though he might lose a four-stroke lead.

In the end the 28-year-old's one-under-par 72 proved just good enough for a one-stroke victory over fellow Englishman Andrew Marshall and Denmark's Soren Hansen.

Montgomerie, who lost last week's US Open after double-bogeying the final hole, was also only one behind with two to play but this time bogeyed the short 17th and by failing to birdie the 533-yard 18th had to settle for a share of fourth spot with another Dane, Thomas Bjorn, who closed with a 71.

His victory, worth €341,667 lifts Casey to fifth place in the Ryder Cup race and closes the gap on David Howell at the top of the Order of Merit.

But his joy was mixed with relief as he collected the trophy. "It feels fantastic, more so because I had a couple of great players chasing me," he said.

"To play with Colin in Scotland in the final group on a Sunday is a treat, very special, and it's difficult when you have a guy like him breathing down your neck.

"But I had a great start (he birdied the first three holes) and battled through."

Paul McGinley showed some of his early-season form with a final round of 71 for a 286 total. Peter Lawrie was a shot back on 287 after a 73 while Stephen Browne collected €14,821 for his 288 finish after a closing 75.

David Higgins finished on two-under-par 290 after a 71 while Damian McGrane shot a 74 for 294.

It was put to Montgomerie that his was not a bad effort considering what happened at the US Open only seven days earlier.

"I will leave you to say that," he responded, clearly not happy that another chance of victory had gone.

"I played the ninth (another par five) in level par and the last in one over," he added, identifying where this one got away.

It was almost inevitable, though, that fatigue - mental more than physical - would kick in at some point for Montgomerie.

Winning creates an inevitable high, but just failing to win has a draining effect. When it is a major that is 10 times worse.

And when you have just finished second for a record fifth time in a major without winning one it must be 100 times worse.

This was Montgomerie's seventh tournament in a row, but despite a report he might be pulling out he insisted that he is straight on to this week's French Open, then the European Open in Ireland, Scottish Open at Loch Lomond and the British Open at Hoylake.

It is asking a lot of a player who turned 43 on Friday to maintain a high level of play throughout such a run, but he has the experience to cope with the peaks and troughs that will inevitably come and will be taking what rest he can to be as ready as possible for Hoylake.

He has certainly made those who thought he was a fading force, both a year ago and after he missed seven out of nine halfway cuts earlier this season, think again.

A place in the world's top 10, the goal he set himself for 2006, is within touching distance and for a player who was outside the top 80 entering 2005 that is some achievement.