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Larrazabal coasts to first win in France

Sun 29th, June 2008

Paris, France (Sports Network) - Pablo Larrazabal was sprayed with champagne, then pushed into the water. He shared a long kiss with his girlfriend. He tossed his shoes and his glove into the crowd.

There was a good reason for the celebration.

Larrazabal closed with a four-under 67 on Sunday to claim his first European Tour win at the Open de France, ending a spectacular and surprising week at Le Golf National that saw the 25-year-old Spaniard hold at least a share of the lead after all four rounds.

He finished at 15-under-par 269 for a four-shot victory over Colin Montgomerie, becoming the first Spaniard to win this tournament since Jose Maria Olazabal in 2001.

"I don't feel like I won," Larrazabal said. "It's too hard to believe."

Montgomerie, seeking his 32nd European Tour win, shot a three-under 68 and took second place alone at 11-under 273. It was the eight-time Order of Merit champion's best finish since winning last year's European Open, which is also the next event on the schedule.

Soren Hansen had a two-under 69 and finished in third place at 10-under 274, with Richard Green (67) taking fourth at eight-under 276.

Lee Westwood, two weeks after finishing one shot out of the U.S. Open playoff, managed only a 71 on Sunday and shared fifth place with Markus Brier (70) at seven-under 277.

But the day, and the tournament, belonged to Larrazabal, who had played only eight Sunday rounds all season before this week. He broke par in just one of them.

It was clear from the beginning of the round that this Sunday would be different as Larrazabal birdied three of his first five holes to remain in the lead he held since Thursday.

Even after a double-bogey on No. 9 -- coupled with back-to-back Montgomerie birdies -- looked like it would bring the young Spaniard back to the field, Larrazabal bounced back.

He birdied the same two holes as Montgomerie -- the 10th and 11th -- to build a four-shot lead. It was trimmed to three strokes by a bogey at the 14th, but Larrazabal rebounded with back-to-back birdies again.

The second one -- at the par-three 16th, where Larrazabal had made bogey the last two rounds -- gave him a five-shot lead on Montgomerie with just two holes remaining.

Montgomerie, for one, was impressed that Larrazabal was able to bounce back twice in such a short span. Especially, the Scotsman said, considering how tight the pins were on the holes where Larrazabal made birdie.

"He has a good future ahead of him, the kid," said Montgomerie.

With such a big lead, Larrazabal was able to play the tough 18th hole at ease. After blasting his tee shot past Hansen's with just an iron, he knocked his approach onto the front of the green and two-putted for his clinching par.

Several of his fellow countrymen, taking their cue from a well-known French celebration on tour, doused Larrazabal with champagne, then herded him to the edge of the water surrounding the 18th green.

He turned the forced dip into a picture-perfect dive, climbed out of the water and kissed his longtime girlfriend. Making the long walk to turn in his scorecard, he tossed his shoes and his glove into the gallery.

Larrazabal's family was also on hand to see his victory, having arrived in France on Tuesday. It was his mother's first tournament.

"It was great to win with my family here, with my girlfriend here," said Larrazabal. "I really appreciate my girlfriend ... it's not easy to stay with a guy who's traveling around all the time."

Larrazabal, 128th on the Order of Merit entering the tournament, ended the week with a flourish, carding back-to-back 67s on the weekend for the victory. He hit 23 of 28 fairways in the last two rounds and needed just 103 putts for the week.

"Maybe I should sleep with my putter tonight," said Larrazabal.

But first, a towel.

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