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Scotland win world cup
World Cup winners Marc Warren and Colin Montgomerie with the World Cup
Colin Montgomerie lavished praise on teammate Marc Warren after the duo had given Scotland its first-ever World Cup victory at Mission Hills today.
The Scots snatched a late and thrilling play-off win after seeing the match squared at the 18th hole of the Olazabal course by the American overnight leaders, Boo Weekley and Heath Slocum.
Teeing off at the last, one shot behind the Scots, they resolutely crafted a vital last-gasp birdie life-saver, but then after leading all week, disappointingly lost the playoff at the third extra hole with a bogey.
Scotland, having posted a fine 6-under 66, were back in the clubhouse with a 25-under 263 for the tournament - when to their dismay the USA matched it with that late birdie and forced a play-off that they, Monty especially, had hoped wouldn't be necessary.
The playoff had initially looked bad when Montgomerie teed off into a bunker on the first extra hole and Warren compounded the problem by flying his approach shot into another bunker close to the flag.
Montgomerie chipped out, but the ball fell short of the pin, leaving Warren with the tricky task of putting from 10 feet.
The 26-year-old didn't flinch, stayed icey calm and sank the crucial putt for par to force the game into a second extra hole.
"What a putt he holed," said Montgomerie. "We were out, I had hit a terrible drive, a terrible bunker shot, and it is amazing what a good putt can do.
"From then on I thought we were favourites, going back to 18 again and we did very well.
"We are very proud of each other and I expect Marc to progress hugely in the world of golf.
"I thank him for his play this week and look forward to seeing Marc Warren in many of these ceremonies in the years to come."
Warren, who earlier this year won the Johnnie Walker Championship, was equally complimentary of his playing partner.
The duo first played together at the World Cup in Barbados last year, that time suffering play-off heartache at the hands of Germany.
"To have the opportunity to play with a golfer who has been there, seen it and done it all is an honour for me," said Warren.
"He is a person I can learn from, I have learnt again this week and I am sure next time I play with him I will learn again.
"He is a great player and a great person to boot, someone I thoroughly enjoy being around - a person who likes to win and really that is what this game is all about."
The defeat was no doubt disappointing for the United States, who had deservedly led in all three previous rounds.
But, regardless, it was a fine effort from a side that, with the worlds 43rd and 70th-ranked players in Weekley and Slocum, were not expected to mount too much of a challenge.
"It was a great week," said Weekley. "It is an honour to be able to come over here and represent your country and play.
"We were not even supposed to be here and that is even more of a bonus.
"We feel disappointed with how we finished but it was a great week."
France's Raphael Jacquelin and Gregory Havret, who had forced themselves into contention with a fine second-round score, fell just short as they carded a five-under-par 67 and a 24-under 264 for the tournament to claim third place.
Justin Rose and Ian Poulter, playing for the first time together at the World Cup, had kept England in contention throughout the tournament but were unable to make a genuine challenge for the trophy on the final day.
Though Rose putted for an eagle on the ninth, two bogeys on the front nine proved damaging as they finished fourth, completing their round in five under for a 23-under-par 265 total.
"Bogeying the third was a kick in the teeth," said Poulter. "I hit a poor three-wood and it came up short in the hazard.
"Justin hit a great recovery shot but it hit the pin and span off the green.
"We bounced back well and shot five under for the last 10 holes but we came up short."
South Africa's Retief Goosen and Trevor Immelman combined for a three-under-par 69 to claim fifth place while Sweden, who shot an impressive two eagles in their round, finished tied for sixth along with the Netherlands, Germany and Argentina.
Gary Rose, PA Sport, Shenzhen
ALL THE FINAL ROUND SCORES
263 *Scotland (Montgomerie/Warren) 63 68 66 66
(*Scotland won the playoff)
263 United States (Slocum/Weekley)61 69 66 67
264 France (Havret/Jacquelin) 64 71 62 67
265 England Poulter/Rose 63 68 67 67
267 South Africa (Goosen/Immelman) 63 69 66 69
268 Sweden (Hanson/Karlsson) 66 70 66 66
268 Netherlands (Derksen/Lafeber) 65 69 65 69
268 Germany (Cejka/Kaymer) 71 66 69
268 Argentina (Gonzalez/Romero) 65 70 64 69
269 Denmark (A Hansen/ S Hansen) 65 68 68 68
271 China (Liang Wen-Chong/Zhang Lian-Wei) 65 71 67 68
271 Korea (Lee Seung-Ho/Lee Sung) 65 69 69 68
273 Spain (Jimenez/Lara) 67 71 65 70
273 Finland (Ilonen/Purhonen) 63 74 65 71
275 Paraguay (Franco/Zanotti) 66 73 67 69
275 Thailand (Jaidee/Marksaeng) 63 76 63 73
276 Austria (Brier/Grenier) 64 75 69 68 276
276 India (Ghei/Randhawa) 65 75 65 71
276 Italy (E Molinari/F Molinari) 65 68 69 74
276 Canada (Weir/Heffernan) 66 72 64 74
279 Australia (Green/O'Hern) 66 72 68 73
280 Philippines (Lascina/Rosales) 67 73 68 72
280 Wales (Dodd/Dredge) 63 76 67 74
281 Ireland (Hoey/Maybin) 66 72 65 78
282 Japan (Tanihara/Hiratsuka) 67 73 69 73
283 Colombia (Benedetti/Mendoza) 68 79 68 68
287 New Zealand (Lee/Scahill) 67 77 70 73
288 Puerto Rico (Morales/Suarez) 68 73 71 76
from SCOTLAND WIN WORLD CUP - Golf365.com - News - Golf News, Golf Tips, Tiger Woods, Michelle Wie, Golf Scores, Golf Leaderboards, Dave Tindall Blog, European Tour, PGA Tour. - SCOTLAND WIN WORLD CUP
oh yes, now lets see if the BBC will show the winning putt of the Scottish World Cup win as often as we get forced to see the 1966 final
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Originally Posted by Quiggs
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