MOLINARI’S TITLE
Italian triumphs in Florida but more woe for McIlroy
HERE in the tourist capital of America they’re fond of telling you it’s the place ‘where dreams come true.’ For Frankie Molinari, it has proved the place where the dream goes on.
The popular Italian, who won the Open at Carnoustie last July and then became a folk hero by claiming five points out of five at the Ryder Cup, ended a relatively quiet period in emphatic fashion with a stunning final round 64 to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational yesterday.
It was another disappointing Sunday for Rory McIlroy after the Co Down man had recorded a terrific 64 the previous day to leave him eight under for the tournament.
However, defending champion McIlroy’s 12-month wait for a victory goes on after a mediocre 72 left him finishing the event on eight under.
It was the ninth time in the last 13 months when he has been in the final group on the final day — and the ninth time where the trophy has eluded him.
If you prefer a glass half-full approach, it was a fifth straight top-ten in five starts this season.
Meanwhile, 36-year-old Molinari took the title out of the arms of a trio of young Englishmen who were all trying to win for the first time in America. For third round leader Matt Fitzpatrick, Matt Wallace and Tommy Fleetwood, there wasn’t a lot to reproach themselves about. Fitzpatrick had never finished better than tied 7th in 48 previous starts on the PGA Tour, so to claim second spot following a final round 71 was a huge step forward. This was a first glimpse for America of the 24year-old who last year became the youngest Englishmen since Nick Faldo to win five times on the European Tour.
Similarly, Londoner Wallace will make his debut in the Players Championship this week mostly buoyed by his top-six placing, although a bogey-bogey finish for a 71 would have stung. However, the career of the 28-year-old, who was playing mini-tour golf just three years ago, continues on its pleasing upward trajectory.
As for Fleetwood, he showed impressive powers of recovery with a 68 after the disappointment of a third round 76 on Saturday, to finish tied third.
This day, however, belonged to his Ryder Cup playing partner. If you were wondering how on earth Molinari would come up with an encore following his three victories worldwide last season and heroics in Paris, wonder no more. Here he was back to his machine-like best as he relished the chance to set a target that would prove out of the reach of the UK quartet and everyone else.
Long based in London when he’s not on his travels, Molinari was already holding a hot hand when he came to the 18th. There, on the green where Tiger Woods displayed such magic over the years and where McIlroy (above) holed a beauty to win last year, Molinari watched his birdie putt from 40ft hit the flagstick flush and fall below ground. ‘It’s become something of an iconic green with all that’s happened there, and I’m glad to add to it,’ he said. Here we saw once more that iron-clad mentality he’s developed under the tutelage of Dave Alred and the putting touch through the guidance of Phil Kenyon. There was even a brilliant chip-in at the 8th from an almost impossible spot. It was his day, all right. ‘I’d rank that among the best rounds I’ve ever played,’ he said. ‘I knew there was a chance to set a target and make life difficult for those out late.’ This was a grand day’s golf, at the end of an event where the Royal and Ancient game finally ended weeks of bad publicity and put its best foot forward once more. For a start the players heeded PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan’s pleas and mercifully stopped bleating about the new rules. Then the final day began with a clear indication that Tiger is ready to return at the Players Championship this week, following all the concern regarding the neck injury that saw him withdraw from Bay Hill.
Woods told PGA Tour officials that unless he suffered a reaction he would play in the circuit’s flagship event.
Ian Poulter closed with a 70 for a top-30 spot but there was a rare failure these days for world number two Justin Rose, who shot 77, 75 in the final two rounds to finish well back. Graeme McDowell suffered too with a 78 and so missed out on one of the three spots into the field for the Open, to be staged in his hometown of Portrush in July.