Practice Pays Off

His irons were pulling left, so Colin Montgomerie hit 150 balls on the practice range after the third round of the Million Dollar Challenge at Sun City, South Africa.

It paid off on the third playoff hole Sunday, when Montgomerie’s 8-iron to the right side of the green bounced crazily off a mound to settle 7 feet from the hole.

He made the birdie putt to defeat South Africa’s Ernie Els and win the richest first prize in golf - $ 1 million.

Loser of five previous playoffs, including two in major tournaments, Montgomerie said the victory will “make for a good Christmas” at home in Scotland.”

Peter Senior overcame driving wind and rain to shoot a 2-underpar 70 and win the $560,000 Greg Norman Holden Classic at Melbourne, Australia, beating the tournament host by one shot.