Colin Montgomerie has won the European tour's Golfer of the Year award for a record-breaking fourth time.

Winner of the Order of Merit for a seventh successive season - another record - and outstanding at the Ryder Cup, Montgomerie regains the title he lost to Lee Westwood last year.

A panel of golf journalists gave Montgomerie the award ahead of Spanish rookie sensation Sergio Garcia, British Open champion Paul Lawrie and US Masters winner Jose Maria Olazabal.

Montgomerie, who won five titles and the World Matchplay crown said: "OK, I didn't win a major and people will look at that, but my worst finish was 15th and to be second to Tiger Woods in the stroke average for the four majors was nice."