Marco Dawson claims victory at Senior Open Championship
Monday 27 July 2015 10:21, UK
Marco Dawson fought off the challenge of Bernhard Langer and Colin Montgomerie to hold on to a one-shot victory at the Senior Open Championship.
Dawson found himself three off the pace after eight holes on Sunday but responded by posting two eagles and two birdies over the next six on his way to a six-under 64, sealing victory with a 20-foot birdie at the last.
Montgomerie's hopes of landing his first Senior Open title were dashed after a slow start to the back nine at Sunningdale, while defending champion Langer kept up the pressure throughout as he carded a bogey-free 64.
"It was an exciting week," Langer said. "We had a few leaderboard changes as the day went by and Marco just played phenominally and things just went for him.
"He leapfrogged both Monty and I and then made an amazing putt at the 18th to make sure I couldn't tie with him. The three of us were fairly close together and it just came down to who played the best eight or ten holes best, which Marco did."
In a dramatic final round in wet and windy conditions, Dawson broke in to an early lead after holing from the bunker at the second, but three bogeys combined with Montgomerie's strong start left the American lurking in third spot with eight holes to play.
The Scot had looked well placed to strike for victory at one stage when he held a two-stroke lead at the tenth, but back-to-back bogeys over the next two holes quickly wiped out any advantage.
A two-putt five at the 11th after finding the bunker off the tee let Langer move in to a tie at the top, with the German holding the outright advantage when Montgomerie couldn't save par from 15 feet at the next.
Dawson joined Langer in birdieing both before surging top of the leaderboard by holing a 20-foot eagle putt at the 14th, which is where the 51-year-old stayed for the rest of the round.
Miguel Angel Jimenez kept up the pressure on the leaders by following up three gains on the front nine with a tap-in eagle at the 14th, but a three-under 67 left the Spaniard four shots back in fourth spot.
Four gains in a five hole stretch saw Woody Austin end the week on eight under alongside Fred Couples, while Tom Watson rolled in a 15-foot birdie at the last to close a one-over 71.
