11 Jan 2010

Montgomerie leads Europe to Royal Trophy victory

8:31 am on 11 January 2010

The Europe golf team has survived a dramatic fightback to beat holders Asia 8-1/2 - 7-1/2 in Thailand, winning the Royal Trophy for the third time in a thrilling match that went to the final hole.

Player-captain Colin Montgomerie's Europe sealed victory when Henrik Stenson sank a nervy six-foot putt to halve with Thongchai Jaidee in the singles as the Thai favourite missed a 12-footer to take the competition to a sudden-death playoff.

Under pressure from a huge Amata Spring Country Club crowd hoping for him to miss, the Swede steadied himself with a deep breath and rolled the ball into the cup to deny Asia a second successive win after a superb performance on the last day.