Qualifier Larrazabal beats Montgomerie in French Open

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SAINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES, France (AP) -- Pablo Larrazabal won the French Open after shooting a 4-under 67 Sunday to finish four strokes ahead of Colin Montgomerie.

Larrazabal ended at 15-under 269 for the first victory of his rookie season on the European Tour.

Montgomerie shot a 3-under 68 to finish second, one stroke ahead of Soren Hansen of Denmark.

The Spanish qualifier remained calm despite the pressure from a prestigious chasing pack that included Lee Westwood, Montgomerie and Hansen.

Larrazabal made the difference on the last four holes. After a bogey on the 14th, he sank birdie putts from 10 and 25 feet on the 15th and 16th to increase his lead to five strokes.

Knowing that a par putt on the 17th would likely secure victory before the last hole, Larrazabal could afford to take a drop because his ball was next to a white mark.

Montgomerie, joint second at 8-under going into the final round, had a rough start. He missed a par putt on the second hole for a bogey before pulling his tee shot into a bunker on the third.

After missing a short birdie putt on the 8th, the Scot slammed the green with his hand out of frustration.

But Montgomerie recovered after the turn with two consecutive birdies to climb back into second place at 10-under.

On the last seven holes, Montgomerie missed opportunities to rally, failing to convert a 10-foot birdie putt on the 13th and saving par on the 17th after sending his second shot into the deep rough.

However, he sank a long birdie putt on the last hole to take second place alone.

Hansen, tied with Montgomerie at the start of the last round, also missed chances to narrow the gap with Larrazabal as he missed a four-foot par putt on the 7th to make bogey.

The Dane was in second place, three strokes behind Larrazabal, until the 15th where his approach shot landed in the water.