Golf: Montgomerie extends his lead over Campbell

MADRID, Spain - Colin Montgomerie extended his European Tour Order of Merit lead over New Zealand's Michael Campbell but not before an outburst of frustration on the final day of the Madrid Open golf tournament here today.

Montgomerie managed an eagle, five birdies and two bogeys in a closing round of 66 to end the Spanish tournament in a share of eighth place on 15-under par, eight strokes behind winner Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin.

Montgomerie won the Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland to move to top of the European money list standings two weeks ago and was third at the AMEX Championship last week.

"I came here this week thinking that whatever I earned could just be the difference in winning the Order of Merit," he said.

"You never know what might happen as we all remember that I won the Order of Merit by a shot in 1995 and say if were to tie or Michael (Campbell) was to beat me by one or two shots at Valderrama (next tournament in Spain), what ever I earn this week could prove vital."

But there was a hint of frustration from Montgomerie straight after he missed a close putt for birdie on the final green of the Club de Cambo course.

He walked to the scorer's hut banging his putter over a metal spectator barrier and then letting the club to drop to the ground.

It was left to a spectator to pick up the putter and hand it to the caddy of another player.

"The greens are just terrible and that's why I just putted so badly," he said.

Montgomerie's share of eighth place earned the 42-year-old Scot £15,465 ($39,786) that has taken his earnings this year in Europe to £1,781,253.

And of more importance to him was that he had extended his lead by £105,659 over US Open champion Campbell, who missed the tournament.

Both players have this week off before travelling to Valderrama in Spain for the Volvo Masters.

Meanwhile, Stephen Scahill has only one tournament, this weekend's Majorca Open, to retain his European Tour card.

The Featherstone golfer missed the cut in Madrid with rounds of 73 and 75 that have kept him at 135th on the European Order of Merit.

He now needs to finish either first or second in Majorca to be assured of breaking into the top 115 and be granted an automatic tour membership for the 2006 season.

- NZPA