Colin Montgomerie, normally so reliable in Europe, came off the rails yesterday and so missed the chance to join Nick Faldo and Seve Ballesteros in the record books.

An error-ridden final round of 71 in the Victor Chandler British Masters at Woburn allowed American Bob May to come from three behind and claim his first professional win - after an amazing 22 runners-up finishes.

Montgomerie was trying for a sixth triumph this season, something only achieved by Ballesteros in 1986 and Nick Faldo in 1992 since the European tour was formed.

But four bogeys in his first seven holes - after only one in the previous 54 - opened the door and May stepped right in.

A closing round of 67 from the 30-year-old Californian gave him the Stg£119,043 first prize by one shot with a 19-under-par aggregate of 269.

"I never dreamt I would win today," said May. "I didn't go out thinking I had a very good chance.

"I consider Colin one of the best players in the world, if not the best, but in golf some days you are on and some you're not."

Montgomerie, still closer to claiming an unbelievable seventh successive Order of Merit crown, said: "I just didn't putt well enough all week, believe it or not.

"My 64 (in the second round) didn't include a putt over eight feet and I just didn't play to my potential at all today, so possibly over four days he deserved to win."

Before flying to the Ryder Cup next Monday Montgomerie has another chance for the record at the Lancome Trophy in Paris this week.

Montgomerie's problems started not on the greens, but when he pushed his tee shot to the 134-yard second and failed to get up and down.

He three-putted the short fifth, was bunkered on the next and then three-putted again at the 409-yard seventh after going just over the green.

May, meanwhile, had made a 15-foot birdie putt on the second, had matched Montgomerie's birdie at the long fourth and had grabbed another with a superb approach to the sixth.

It meant that in seven holes there had been a six-stroke swing between the two and even when Montgomerie collected birdies at the ninth and 10th they were matched again by the American.

May bogeyed the short 12th and it looked as if the gap might come down to one shot on the 425-yard 16th when Montgomerie holed from 18 feet. But May, continuing to play well, followed him in from 15 feet.

Still two clear playing the last, both found a greenside bunker and when May came out to six feet he had two putts to win.

Montgomerie's consolation was that he still became the first player ever to bank £9 million on the European tour.