FRANCESCO TAMES TIGER
FRANCESCO Molinari can barely believe he is 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 eight-under 72-hole total of 276 eclipsed Padraig Harrington’s Carnoustie tournament record score 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,” Molinari said. “For someone coming from Italy, not really a major golfing country, it’s been an incredible journey.”
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 Monday for his 11th Open tilt, having won twice and finished second twice in his past four starts.
“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 fascinating final round before a double-bogey on the 11th and bogey on the 12th cruelled his hopes.