‘I hope my success can inspire more children at home to play golf ’

Francesco Molinari hopes his Open Championship glory inspires a new generation of Italians to play golf – and finally makes up for Costantino Rocca losing in a play-off at St Andrews 23 years ago.

Molinari collected more than £1.4 million for winning his first major and moved to world No 6 as he left the likes of Rory Mcilroy, Justin Rose, Jordan Spieth and, most pertinently, Tiger Woods in his wake. But his first thought was for his country. “It has been big news in Italy, my recent run of form,” said Molinari, who has now won three of his last six starts and been second twice. “But to achieve something like this is on another level. Hopefully there were a lot of young kids watching on TV, like I was watching Costantino in 1995 coming so close to winning [against John Daly] at St Andrews.”

Molinari won the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in May and was second in the Italian Open the following week, before following a tie for 25th in the US Open with an eight-shot victory in the Quicken Loans National and second place in the Travelers Championship.

The 35-year-old only arrived in Carnoustie on Monday lunchtime and walked a few holes of a course where he missed the cut on his Open debut in 2007.

“I knew I was coming in with some good golf but my record around here was terrible,” he said after his bogeyless 69 for an eightunder total that beat a group, including Rose and Mcilroy, by two shots. “So that didn’t make me too optimistic – but I just tried to not think about it and focus on hitting good shots day by day.

“To go the weekend bogey free, it’s unthinkable, to be honest. 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. I’m lost for words.

“I was supposed to being home on a 9pm Easyjet flight tonight. I guess that’s gone.”

Runner-up Xander Schauffele will look back on a chaotic final day as a positive experience. “Hats off to Francesco. I looked up on 17 and saw he got to minus eight, which is just incredible golf and an incredible finish.

“Obviously, when you don’t win, you’re disappointed but I was just happy to have a chance to win with four or five holes to play. I was in the final group, I had to face a little bit of adversity early in the round, and I still gave myself a chance.”