Montgomerie and Langer forced to share as darkness descends

In near darkness and to avoid one of the most prestigious events on the European Tour descending further into farce, the season-ending Volvo Masters was shared by Colin Montgomerie and Bernhard Langer. Their sudden-death play-off was ended after two extra holes when the players agreed to share the title, and £273,543. The decision was taken by executive director Ken Schofield in consultation with the sponsors.

Montgomerie, who bogeyed the last in regulation, missed a 10-foot putt at the second extra hole which would have given him victory. "Although I did not mean to miss the putt, I think it is fitting that we share the title. I have great respect for this man," Montgomerie said of his Ryder Cup playing partner.

It was the first time a title has been shared since Langer and Seve Ballesteros tied at the Lancôme Trophy in 1986 when their play-off was called off after six holes, also because of darkness. "Mother Nature would not allow us to continue again," said Langer.

A late finishing time, for television purposes, left little time for extra holes. Montgomerie still does not have a play-off win in eight attempts on the European Tour but he did register his first victory, brackets tied, for 15 months.

Time was wasted earlier when Montgomerie was taken to the television compound after signing for a 70 to tie Langer in order to view an incident on the 10th green. Montgomerie was not happy to have his build-up to the play-off disrupted and no penalty was assessed. On missing a par putt at the hole, he hastily put his putter behind the ball before it had stopped rolling. It was inconclusive whether the putter had stopped the ball but the balance of evidence suggested not.

"I knew I had not hit the ball," said Montgomerie, "but the question was whether I had addressed it while it was moving. We found that I had not. I was unhappy at the end about being told there was a possible penalty on the 12th hole, but the chief referee, John Paramor, was right to tell me because it could have affected the way I played the last few holes."

Langer produced a superb back nine to come home in 32. His challenge began with an eagle at the 11th and he added birdies at the 13th and 17th, where he faced a long third shot to the treacherous green but put it to eight feet and holed the putt.

The German's birdie attempt at the last stopped on the lip but his 67 left him at three under par. Overnight leader Bradley Dredge holed from 50 feet at the first while Montgomerie's shoulders slumped when he bogeyed there and missed his birdie at the next.

Dredge, a Welshman, put up a brave performance in leading for much of the day but two bogeys in the last four holes left him in third place. Montgomerie was inspired after the 10th. A birdie-four at the 11th was followed by another birdie at the 13th and then he holed from 20 feet for a three at the 16th. After his drive rebounded off a tree at the 17th, he pitched with his third to three feet to go to four under.

However, his drive at the last ran through the fairway and he could only reach the fringe with this second. Putting from the collar, he left the putt nine feet short and then missed for par, the first of two chances to win outright.

Padraig Harrington started the day leading Retief Goosen by a stroke but too far down the leaderboard to have a realistic chance of catching the South African on the money list. Bogeying the last two holes gave Harrington a 73, for 13 over par, while Goosen closed with a 71 for 12 over. He earned his second successive Vardon Trophy with £1,481,924 and finished £15,994 ahead of Harrington.

"Whenever you win a tournament it feels great if you defend it," Goosen said. "To defend this title you have to play well for the whole year and it is great to pull it off again."

"It has been a disappointing week but Retief played well today and it deserves it," Harrington said. "It was a new situation and I have gained a lot of experience that I can use to get better next year.

"I wasn't myself for the last three weeks. It is out of character for me. I was here trying to win the Order of Merit rather than just playing in the tournament. You get ahead of yourself and away from what you normally do. It is a bit like the guys who were trying to get into form before the Ryder Cup. There was a lot of focus and attention on everything they did and that distracts you.

"I would do things differently if I had it over again but I don't regret anything because I didn't know any better. But the experience may help me maybe win a major in the future."