Molinari wins British Open in thriller
CLIFFHANGER Italian becomes first from his country to win a Major after Woods comes close to breaking title jinx
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“What a week! It is incredible to stand here and I should thank all my family for the support they give me when I travel all around the world. This golf course was incredible, the R&A did an amazing job of setting it up
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FRANCESCO MOLINARI , after win
I think that I belong to this stage. I haven’t played too much links golf before this, and this is only my third time, and it’s definitely very different compared to what we play normally, especially back home in Asia
SHUBHANKAR SHARMA, after T51
CARNOUSTIE: Francesco Molinari became Italy’s first Major champion after firing a closing two-under-par 69 to win the British Open at Carnoustie on Sunday.
Molinari ended two shots clear of Justin Rose, Rory McIlroy, Kevin Kisner and Xander Schauffele as he claimed the first Major of his career at the age of 35. The 35-year-old from Turin underlined his status as the hottest player in world golf by finishing with an eight-under total of 276.
Molinari, playing alongside former world No 1 Tiger Woods in the final round, produced a joyful first-pump and hugged his caddie after holing a five-foot birdie putt at the 18th hole. It was the Italian’s third victory in five starts. He also ended as runner-up in the other two tournaments.
Woods appeared ready to end his 10-year victory drought in Majors midway through the round. The American topped the leaderboard until his hopes nosedived following a double-bogey at the 11th and another dropped stroke at the next hole. The 14-times Major winner had to settle for a closing 71 and a 279 aggregate. “The way Francesco played was beautiful,” said Woods.
It had looked at one point as though Woods would end his decade-long wait to win a 15th Major, but he faded for a 71 to finish on five under par.
WOODS ON FIRE
Three-time British Open champion Woods began the day four shots adrift of Jordan Spieth, Schauffele and Kevin Kisner.
The 42-year-old, who won the last of his 14 Majors a decade ago, has rolled back the clock at Carnoustie and after a sizzling thirdround 66 he was at it again. He played the opening nine holes in 34 strokes, sinking birdies at the fourth and sixth. However, his challenge faded with a double-bogey at the 11th after finding the rough off the tee and duffing a chip. He then dropped back to four-under with another bogey at the 12th. Woods found himself leading a Major on a Sunday for the first time since 2011.
Molinari carded 13 straight pars as he stayed on course for his first major. The predicted winds materialised on cue to add an extra ingredient to what was already looking like a thrilling climax. Only four of the first 60 players to complete their rounds on Sunday carded a sub-70 round.
Rory McIlroy put memories of a flat final-round performance at the Masters earlier this year firmly behind him with a battling last round at the British Open on Sunday as he posted a one-underpar 70 to finish six-under overall.
The 29-year-old’s bid to add a fifth major, four years on from his last, may have fallen just short but a return to the daring and carefree style of his younger days seems to have paid off.
Rather than going into his shell as he did in the final pairing with eventual champion Patrick Reed at Augusta this year, he didn’t let a frustrating front nine at Carnoustie -- including two bogeys in the first five holes -crush his spirit.
A look of astonishment crossed his always expressive face when he dropped a shot at the fifth, and it was little wonder as the ball went round the lip but refused to drop.
Results: 276_Francesco Molineri (ITA) (70, 72, 65, 69); 278_Justin Rose (ENG) (72, 73, 64, 69); Rory McIlroy (ENG) (69, 69, 70, 70); Kevin Kisner (USA) (66, 70, 68, 74); Xander Schauffle (USA) (71, 66, 67, 74); 279_Eddie Pepperell (ENG) (71, 70, 71, 67); Tiger Woods (USA) (71, 71, 66, 71); Kevin Chappell (USA) (70, 69, 67, 73).