Scotland win World Cup of Golf
- Sunday, 25 November 2007
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Scotland are celebrating after becoming world champions for the first time in 53 years. The pairing of Colin Montgomerie and Marc Warren held their nerve to finally see off the Americans, Boo Weekley and Heath Slocum, at the third extra hole. The celebrations were particularly pronounced for the Scots, after they had come so close in Barbados last year, losing in a play-off to Germany.
In a final day full of excitement and an extremely generous helping of birdies, Scotland had looked on course to win in normal play after an electric two-hole spell. First Warren, a winner on Tour in 2007, hit a pitch stone dead at the 14th and then Monty pulled off the shot of the day – a 202-yard 6-iron, which rolled up to 10ft on the par-5 15th. That eagle was enough to put the Scots on top of the leaderboard for the first time in the tournament.
However, the Americans and in particular the rotund Boo Weekley had other ideas, needing a birdie 3 at 18 to force a play-off, Weekley hit a stunning approach to 12ft before his partner calmly rammed in the putt. With the French pairing of Raphael Jacquelin and Gregory Havret unable to match the Americans it was down to a two-way shootout down the 18th again, and again.
With the momentum firmly in the stars n stripes corner it looked a tall order for the Scots as a bunkered drive from Monty left Warren needing to hole a 15footer at the first play-off hole and Slocum to miss almost an exact re-run of his putt in normal time, just to stay in the hunt. Warren, a former rookie of the year on the European Tour, did exactly that and when Slocum left his putt on the lip it was back to 18 again. A pair of regulation pars followed and it was to be a third try.
This time Monty found the middle of the fairway and it was Slocum who left his partner with a difficult up-hill lie in the semi-rough. A heavy contact from Weekley and a poor chip from Slocum meant that Monty had a downhill 25footer to win the World Cup. Despite seeing it slide millimetres by, Weekley was unable to hole his own effort and the Scots were crowned champions.
“I didn’t want to say anything to Marc but my play-off record is rubbish!” joked Monty before adding, “After missing out last year to come here and win is superb.”
The English pairing of Justin Rose and Ian Poulter fought valiantly round the Olazabel designed course but ultimately the pair, who were both in superb form coming into the world cup, fell two stroke short. “I think we did brilliantly considering the mistakes we made out there,” said Order of Merit winner Rose. “But ultimately those mistakes cost us.”
Final Standings
-25 Scotland (Winners)
-25 USA
-24 France
-23 England
-21 South Africa
