Monday 28 July 2014 13:36, UK
Bernhard Langer shot a final round of 67 to cruise to an incredible 13-shot triumph at the Senior Open Championship at Royal Porthcawl.
The German led by eight overnight, but was once again the class of the field as he posted his fourth sub-70 round of the week – and the best of the day – to seal the most emphatic of wire-to-wire triumphs.
Langer eventually finished on 18-under-par after mixing six birdies and two bogeys on Sunday, indeed he made only five bogeys during the course of the tournament.
Colin Montgomerie – who won the US Senior Open and the Senior PGA Championship earlier in the season - carded a closing 69 to finish as his closest challenger on a distant five-under.
Canada’s Rick Gibson shot a four-over 75 to slip from second overnight into a tie for third alongside England’s Barry Lane (72) and Tom Pernice Jr of America (70).
Two more Americans, Scott Dunlap (75) and Bob Tway (76) were the only other men not to finish over-par, they shared sixth place at level-par.
Langer’s victory is his second in the event having first won it at Carnoustie back in 2010.
"This is very unusual," he said after earning a place in next year's Open Championship at St Andrews.
"This just doesn't happen, not with the competition you're facing, and certainly not in a major usually where the best from around the globe are playing in the championship. So it's been an amazing week for me.
"The secret was I didn't make too many mistakes and my driver was very good and my long putting was excellent, although not quite today as I was lacking a little. Perhaps my lead was too big."
