Dawson takes Senior Open Championship title

The American won by a single shot from Bernhard Langer at Sunningdale.

Marco Dawson won his second title of the year at the Senior Open Championship at Sunningdale.

The American shot a final round 64 to finish one shot ahead of defending champion Bernhard Langer.

Colin Montgomerie was three shots back from Dawson after 72 holes, with the former Ryder Cup captain making consecutive bogeys after the turn.

"I was nervous coming down the stretch," said Dawson afterwards.

"These guys are playing well and making birdies left and right. I thought I've got to do something, so I said, you know what, let's just make the swing and see what happens.

"Quit playing conservative, just make the swing."

Dawson, 51, holed a crucial birdie putt on the 18th to take his first Senior major.

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He made two eagles during his final round, on the par 4 9th and the par 5 14th, before closing with three straight pars and a birdie.

Langer made par or better on every hole, claiming six birdies in total, but it wasn't enough to stop Dawson from winning in Berkshire.

The win also means qualification for The Open at Royal Troon next year.

Dawson said: "That [qualification] will be great. I love coming over here. This is only my second time here and I love the way it's played differently here.

"There's so many more options off the tee and on the fairways and on the greens."

Marco Dawson                65   67   68   65       -16        264

Bernhard Langer             65   68   68   64       -15        265

Colin Montgomerie         67   67   66   67       -13        267

Miguel Angel Jimenez    65   69   68   67       -11        269

Woody Austin                 69   67   70   66        -8         272

Fred Couples                   68   66  69    69        -8         272

Jeff Maggert                    71   67   66  69         -7         273

Philip Walton                  71   67   65   70        -7         273

Esteban Toledo               73   68   68   65        -6         274

Jeff Sluman                     65   69   70   70       -6         274

Peter Fowler                    69   65   68   72       -6         274