Golf/ Singapore Masters: Nick Dougherty's first European Tour win was like something out of the movies for the Liverpudlian while, for Colin Montgomerie, the man he beat, it was "unbelievable".
But the 22-year-old's victory in the 2005 Caltex Masters in Singapore is an undeniable fact, even if he was flattered by the five-shot winning margin. A final round 67 at the Laguna National Golf and Country club ensured a first win on the tour for Dougherty at 18-under-par, with last year's winner Montgomerie settling for joint-second place with Maarten Lafeber of the Netherlands.
Denmark's Thomas Björn, who completed the showpiece final three-ball with Dougherty and Montgomerie, took fourth place on 11 under after his closing 72.
Peter Lawrie finished strongly, a final round of 66 - his best of the competition - moving the Irishman up to eight-under-par.
The only other Irishman still in the competition yesterday, Graeme McDowell - Gary Murphy and Damien McGrane both missed the cut - finished four shots further back, closing with a 72.
Dougherty was staggered by his success. "I am still a little shell-shocked, but it was picture perfect I suppose," said Dougherty who moves to second on the European Tour Order of Merit.
"It is something I have worked hard for. We've talked before about things I've done wrong, well here's one I've done right. I feel like I've earned this and, hopefully, it is a sign of many great things to come."
A protege of Nick Faldo, Dougherty revealed he had been sent a good luck text message by the six-time Major winner before he set off for the final round, in between calls from his father and his grandmother.
Beginning the day two shots clear of Montgomerie and Bjorn, Dougherty was still in front at the turn while the Dane's challenge had fallen away with a double bogey at the second.
Three birdies on the back nine revived Bjorn's hopes, but a double bogey after finding water at the short 17th ended his chances of victory.
That left Montgomerie and Dougherty to battle it out over the final four holes and, when the seven-time European number one birdied the 15th, the Englishman's lead had been whittled down to one shot.
The pressure looked to have taken its toll when Dougherty hit one of his worst shots of the weekend from the tee on the 16th, pulling his drive into a bunker while Montgomerie's ball sailed a course down the centre of the fairway. However, because of the large wooden sleepers in the face of the bunker, Dougherty was allowed a free drop up on top out of the trap from where he bashed to within three feet of the pin.
Had he been in the sand, he would not have been allowed the drop, but because his ball had skirted through the bunker and come to rest on the grass in front of the sleepers, he was allowed to take the drop under a local rule.
The ruling turned the tournament decisively in Dougherty's favour as he rolled in a birdie while Montgomerie three-putted for a bogey five. The Scot could then only manage par on the 17th and a birdie on the 18th sealed victory for Dougherty.
"The ruling was the turning point," said Montgomerie. "I was one behind and in the middle of the fairway and he is in the bunker left, up the face of the bunker. Next minute you know he's three feet away.
"Then I catch a horrendous lie on the 17th where if you hit a thousand balls from that tee you are never going to get in that position and then, on the 18th, I'm in the middle of a divot and I duff it. I mean it is almost unbelievable."
European Order of Merit
1 - C Schwartzel (SA)€192,949
2 - N Dougherty (Brit)€163,148
3 - T Bjorn (Den)€151,214
4 - S Dodd (Brit)€129,126
Selected Others
10 - C Montgomerie (Brit)€66,560
12 - P Harrington (Ire)€52,287
14 - E Els (SA)€38,562
16 - Peter Lawrie (Ire)€37,258
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