ITALIAN STUNS THE GREATS
FRANCESCO Molinari can barely believe he’s Italy’s first major champion after staring down Tiger Woods and holding off a cast of golfing giants including Rory McIlroy and defending champion Jordan Spieth to win the British Open.
Playing alongside the resurgent Woods, Molinari carded a nerveless final-round twounder-par 69 to win the Claret Jug by two shots from McIlroy (70), English hope Justin Rose (69) and faltering American third-round joint leaders Xander Schauffele (74) and Kevin Kisner (74).
With a brilliant birdie at the last and no bogeys all weekend, 35-year-old Molinari’s eightunder 72-hole total of 276 eclipsed Padraig Harrington’s Carnoustie tournament record from 2007 by a stroke and kept some of the sport’s biggest names at bay.
“It’s just disbelief. To look at the names on that Claret Jug, obviously, what can you say? It’s the best golfers in history and to be on there, it’s incredible,” Molinari said.
“From someone like me coming from Italy, not really a major golfing country, it’s been an incredible journey,” he said.
Molinari missed the cut at Royal Birkdale last year and also when the Open was last staged at Carnoustie in 2007.
But the world No. 15 was the hottest player on the planet when he arrived in Scotland last Mondayd forf hishi 11th11h OpenO tilt, having won twice and finished second twice in his past four starts.
He blitzed the field by eight shots at the Quicken Loans National to be the first Italian to win on the US PGA Tour since 1951, then finished tied second at last week’s John Deere Classic.
“I knew I was coming in with some good golf,” Molinari said. “My record around here was terrible, so that didn’t make me too optimistic.
“Obviously playing with Tiger was another challenge because of the crowds and everything. But I felt really good this morning. When I came here, I felt I was ready for the challenge.”
Bidding for his first major in 10 years, Woods hit the outright lead midway through a fascinatingfii finalfil roundd beforebf a double-bogey on the 11th and bogey on the 12th cruelled it.
The 14-time major winner eventually signed for a 71 and a share of sixth at five under with fellow American Kevin Chappell (73) and “hungover” Englishman Eddie Pepperell, who enjoyed the clubhouse lead for two hours after a last-round low 67.
Spieth, who started the day in a three-way share of the lead with Kisner and Schauffele, crashed with a 76 to wind up equal ninth and have his quest to become the first back-toback champion since Harrington a decade ago ended.
Molinari hopes his win inspires Italian kids to take up golf, just as Costantino Rocca made him want to pick up a club when he made the 1995 play-off at St Andrews. AAP