THE 'gentleman's game' of golf fittingly threw up its ideal winners as the International Open came to a close in the late afternoon sunshine at The Oxfordshire on Sunday.

As if registering some sort of confirmation of the good-naturedness of golf, the Benson and Hedges Open title went to the All-mighty Colin Montgomerie - with two 'Angels' in close order at the finish!

Throughout the four days the competitors had shown impeccable manners, with smiles from just about everyone, even those not enjoying the best of their game.

In the end, the deserved victory went to Monty, who had only two blemishes in an otherwise faultless four days of golf. Two bogeys in 72 holes, plus 17 birdies, left Monty with a 15-under-par total of 273 and victory by three clear shots.

Monty must have believed someone 'up there' was watching over him as he fended off the challenge of Argentina's Angel Cabrera (who finished joint second with Per-Ulrik Johansson) and Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez, whose last round 68 matched the big man all the way.

It was a magnificent tournament if only for the return to form of some of the greats of the game.

Although they didn't challenge for the title itself, it was fantastic to see the likes of Nick Faldo, Seve Ballesteros, Ian Woosnam and Sandy Lyle making occasional inroads on the leader board.

In the end, Faldo settled for a top ten finish, but it gave us all hope that there's still plenty to come from a player who was once on top of the golfing world.

My favourite memory from the four days was Ballesteros returning from the driving range after his third round 69 on Saturday and being beseiged by autograph hunters.

He was able to take but a few steps at a time as he paused to scribble each 'Seve' signature - on shirts, programmes and, for one lucky youngsters, on the pristine white peak of his cap.

That ten-year-old will have been the envy of the playground on his return to school this week, while a 12-year-old girl, with Seve's moniker on her forearm. vowed not to let that limb see soap and water "ever again".

I wonder what her mum said!

AUSTRALIAN cricket fans should be worried. With my reputation as a sports tipster, no World Cup team will want me backing them!

The Aussies are my choice to lift the Cricket World Cup and I have them to beat Sri Lanka in the final, with South Africa a close third.

My selection gremlins have already arrived, with England - who I hope do well but don't really expect to - giving the Sri Lankans a roasting oin the opening day of the tournament.

I believe England will surprise a few pundits, though I can't quite see them reaching the semi-finals. But one last thought . . . with my past form as a tipster, Scotland should take heart.

I have them, down to finish last in Group B, but as rugby fans will recall I also had the Scots to collect the wooden spoon in the rugby Five Nations - and look what happened!

Story date: Wednesday 19 May

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