Elkington - play-off victory (Allsport)

Colin Montgomerie suffered more major championship agony in Los Angeles, losing a play-off for the US PGA title to Australian Steve Elkington.

Montgomerie had birdied the last three holes to force a tie, but then Elkington sank a 25-foot birdie putt at the first extra hole to win his first major title - and deny the 31-year-old Scot his.

Beaten in a play-off for the US Open last year, Montgomerie has never won a play-off in his entire professional career and when Elkington holed he had to make a 15-footer to stay alive.

The putt slid by and he had suffered his fifth play-off defeat out of five.

Montgomerie had earlier holed from four feet on the 16th and five feet at the 17th, but then had to make an 18-footer to deny Elkington, round in 64 just before after starting the final day six adrift.

In the huge amphi-theatre that is the final green of the Riviera Country Club he made the most important putt of his life - but all to no avail.

With Montgomerie returning a 65 to add to his 68-67-67 in the first three rounds, the pair finished on the 17 under par total of 267, equalling the lowest aggregate in the history of major championship golf.

South African Ernie Els, three clear overnight and needing ``only'' a 69 to break the record total for any major championship, showed unexpected chinks in his armour to open the door.

The 25-year-old returned a 72 to be joint third with American Jeff Maggert, whose 69 put him into the Ryder Cup team.

Brad Faxon will also make his cup debut after a 63 gave him the fifth place he needed. It makes him the 17th man - and the second this week - to score 63 in a major.

Montgomerie had been almost dismissive of his chances with a round to go, remembering only too well that it was Els who beat him in a play-off for the US Open last June and also in the final of the World Match Play at Wentworth four months later.

But the 31-year-old Scot turned in a three-under 32 and at 14 under was only one behind Els and Australian Steve Elkington.

Montgomerie was on in two at the first and two-putted, then made a 14-footer at the 463-yard second, ranked the hardest hole on the course.

It was the perfect start for the man who was bemoaning his putting after his third round 67, saying: ``I've had 50 birdie chances this week and I'm only 11 under.''

He missed a four-foot opportunity at the fifth and failed from 10 feet on the seventh, but at the 370-yard next pitched to within 18 inches of the flag.

Montgomerie also birdied the 11th from 10 feet, but when he bogeyed the 13th his chance appeared to have gone. Then came the grandstand finish, however.

Elkington, with Scot Dave Renwick as his caddie, was out in 31 and leapt into a two-shot lead by starting for home with three straight birdies.

He could only par the last six, but they were to prove enough for the man who is allergic to grass.

Of the other Europeans Miguel Angel Jimenez did his hopes of a Ryder Cup debut a power of good by coming joint 13th on nine under with a closing 70.

Italian Costantino Rocca, runner-up in last month's Open after a play-off with John Daly, had another good major, finishing nine under after a 69.

Swede Jesper Parnevik was one further back, Sam Torrance (71) six under and both Nick Faldo (67) and Jose Maria Olazabal (71) five under.

They are now looking favourites for Bernard Gallacher's two wild cards in a fortnight. Both are outside the top 10 who earn automatic places and both are staying on in America and will miss the Czech and German Opens, the last two counting events.

Philip Walton, who shot a closing 68 to finish on four under with Sandy Lyle (71), was delighted with his performance in his first-ever US Tour event.

Both of them are heading straight for the Czech Republic, Walton to try to make sure of his cup debut and Lyle to try to mount a late challenge for a recall eight years after his last appearance.

Montgomerie said: ``My play-off record went through my mind on the buggy ride back to the 18th tee. But I thought the law of averages have got to come into effect and I thought it was my turn today.

``Steve played a good hole, though, and I want to congratulate him. His records in the majors this year is second-to-none. I don't feel I lost - he won.

``I did nothing wrong. I birdied the last three holes and when he made his putt I tried to gather my thoughts. I've played enough golf to expect the unexpected, but it wasn't to be.''

Elkington was fifth in the Masters in April and sixth in last month's Open at St Andrews.

Elkington, who pulled out of last week's Buick Open because of another sinus infection, said: ``That was the round of my life. I felt so confident out there that in positions where I would usually defend I was attacking. It was a wonderful feeling.

``I was semi-prepared for Colin holing the putt on the last. Golfers are thick-skinned. It's not easy to regroup, but you do it.''