COLIN MONTGOMERIE retained his Senior PGA Championship crown by a commanding four shots at French Lick, Indiana, as he earned his third major title in the over-50 ranks.

Three ahead overnight, Montgomerie recovered from a bogey on the opening hole with a superb display on the challenging Pete Dye course, compiling six birdies and just two more bogeys on the way to a three-under-par 69.

That left the 51-year-old Scot at eight-under 280, four strokes ahead of Mexico's Esteban Toledo, who closed with a 69 on a blustery afternoon.

Montgomerie became the first player since American Hale Irwin (1996-1998) to successfully defend the Senior PGA Championship.

The Briton, one of the best players never to have landed a regular major title, won last year's Senior PGA at Harbor Shores in Michigan before claiming his second Champions Tour major two months later at the US Senior Open.

Woody Austin carded a 69 to finish in third place at three-under, one stroke better than fellow-American Brian Henninger (71).