Westwood best in long hard slog

For five days the same players, it seems, have been trudging endlessly down the same Wentworth golf holes so that this might have been Groundhog Day in the stockbroker belt. Finally, though, the merry-go-round stopped and shortly after midday yesterday Lee Westwood became the World Matchplay champion.

All square with Colin Montgomerie after 36 holes of classical golf, the end came on the second extra hole, a 148-yard par three, when, with the rain driving down, Westwood rolled in a 20-foot birdie putt and his opponent dribbled his own 15-footer past the low side of the hole.

It was Westwood's sixth victory in Europe this year and, minutes later, he was holding what appeared to be the hub cap from an articulated lorry, a cheque for a quarter-of-a-million quid, and flashing a grin that would have been the envy of Duncan Renaldo, the original Cisco Kid.

He immediately announced his intention to play a unification match with Darren Clarke, holder of the Andersen Consulting version of the World Matchplay championship, next time they practice together.

Meanwhile, Pancho, the bedraggled but not downhearted defending champion, who had shot a record 38 under par for the tournament and still come second, had said "Adios amigo" and slipped quietly away to the clubhouse content at least that his game is back in order in time to try to wrench the Order of Merit away from Westwood in the last two events of the season.

With the exception of a scrubby period midway through the back nine, when Montgomerie handed the 13th and 14th to Westwood, who then reciprocated on the next, the standard of golf had been astounding, feeding perhaps from Montgomerie's eagle on the final hole on Sunday.

Two down when play began at eight o'clock yesterday, Montgomerie had overtaken Westwood, whose putter had chilled overnight, by the time they walked from the eighth green.

Although the lead changed hands during that wobbly three holes, the match was all square after 15 and remained so when both missed with long range putts on the next.

Now the real drama began. On the par five 17th, Montgomerie was straighter and longer from the tee, and Westwood, mindful that his opponent was in range with a threewood (if anyone is hitting this particular club better than Montgomerie at present then he should immediately join the Magic Circle) opted to hit his driver from the fairway. Although he mishit, it still got to within 40 yards of the green, but was overshadowed by Montgomerie's majestic shot pin high to 25 feet.

When Westwood's chip failed to check and rolled 20 feet past, it appeared that two putts from Montgomerie would suffice to take a one hole lead into the last.

"The thing about matchplay, though" explained Montgomerie later, "is that you must always expect the worst. If you are surprised by anything then you are in the wrong frame of mind.

" If someone misses a putt it is a bonus, if not then it is only to be expected."

Having put his own putt stiff, was he fully prepared then when Westwood sent his unerringly into the centre of the cup for the half? "Well to be truthful I was still surprised." The 18th was halved in birdie fours.