The 43 year old Englishman, who was bridging a ten year gap since his last success in 1994, found himself in thick rough from the tee at the par four 16th hole on the final day. From a difficult position, with his ball barely visible, Lane managed to dig out a 92 yard lob wedge across water to 25 feet and sank the birdie putt to effectively secure the title on his 499th start on The European Tour International Schedule.

Lane recalled: “It was a horrible lie. I pushed my drive into the right rough and knew it wasn't lying too well when I could see the cameraman studying it from about three inches. I could only see three dimples of the ball! It was one of the worst lies I have seen.

“I had just over 90 yards to carry the water. At that stage I was one ahead and decided to have a go with the lob wedge and hit it as hard as I could. It came out perfectly and I holed the putt from 25 feet for a birdie. After that shot the putt was easy. If it hadn't landed within a few yards of a marshal I am not sure we would have found it. I'm delighted it has been recognised as The Royal Bank of Scotland Shot of the Month.”
In second place was Scott Drummond’s 40 foot birdie putt on the 17th hole at Wentworth Club’s West Course in the 50th Volvo PGA Championship. The Scot’s effort proved decisive as he went on to win his first title in the Tour’s 1000th official event.

Third place went to Trevor Immelman’s 143 yard nine iron at the final hole in the Deutsche Bank-SAP Open TPC of Europe at St Leon-Rot near Heidelberg in Germany. The ball landed six feet behind the hole and the South African made the birdie putt to beat Padraig Harrington by a stroke.

The Royal Bank of Scotland Shot of the Month Award, in association with The European Tour, Sky Sports and Golf Weekly, is presented to the Tour Member for the shot judged to be the most outstanding played during each calendar month on The European Tour International Schedule. In November 2004, the winning shots from each month will be entered towards The Royal Bank of Scotland Shot of the Year Award.

Previous winners during the 2004 season have been Trevor Immelman of South Africa (December/January), Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee (February), Colin Montgomerie of Scotland (March) and Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell (April).

 

Courtesy of www.europeantour.com