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Sun 07 Jul 2007Monty benefits from rub of the greenOn a day when the heavens opened in Co Kildare, all Colin Montgomerie's prayers were answered as he became the new Smurfit Kappa European Open champion for the first time while Greame McDowell could be forgiven for thinking he'd just been kicked in the teeth.To say the eight-time European Tour Order of Merit winner rode his luck coming down the stretch was an understatement, for he more than flirted with water on the two closing par threes. On the 17th  his effort came up short but somehow his ball defied gravity to stay dry. Credit to Monty, for he took advantage by pitching to two feet and holing for par.