july1 Frenchwinner

Graeme Storm tore through the field in the final round of The French Open to win by a single shot.

It is the Englishman’s first win on the European Tour and he picked up a helathy cheque of over £300,000. The vistory also sealed him a place in The Open at Carnoustie in just over two weeks time.

Colin Montgomerie was leading with four holes to play, but made two late bogeys to end up in a tie for third.

Denmark’s Anders Hansen had looked most likely to win, but ended up just one shot back from Storm.

Another Englishman, Simon Khan, had played well all week after reclaiming an old putter from his two-year-old daughter’s play box, but he struggled on the final day and slipped to third with Monty.

Storm’s blistering 66 – five under par – was simply too hot a pace for the rest of the field. The 29-year-old lost his card in 2002-2003 and was so short of cash he had to wash baking trays at a cake factory.

He won’t be washing too many baking trays now! “Working in a cake factory was a bit of a come down for me.” he said. ” But in a way it helped me because it showed me the other side of life and how hard you have to work. This win has changed my life. I can’t believe it – it’s a dream.”

Monty cam so cloe, but remained positive. “I now know if I can putt well I can win.”