Ryder Cup boost for Molinari after landing first PGA Tour triumph
Francesco Molinari strengthened his bid for a Ryder Cup return later this year after claiming a first PGA Tour title with a stunning eight-shot success in the Quicken Loans National in Maryland.
The Italian star signed off with an eight-under-par 62 for a 21-under-par 259 total, breaking the tournament record by seven shots.
Tiger Woods closed with a 66, his lowest final round in more than five years, but, along with everyone else, the 14-time major winner was left trailing in Molinari’s wake.
It was the 35-year-old’s second win of the year after he produced a similarly classy display to win the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth at the end of May.
That victory catapuled Molinari, who played on winning teams in both 2010 and 2012 at Celtic Manor and Medinah respectively, into Ryder Cup contention. He admitted it had been a gamble to then decide to miss the French Open at Le Golf National, venue for September’s clash with the US, to play in a PGA Tour event.
“I came here obviously because I was right on the bubble in the Fedex Cup and I wanted to gain a better position, so I guess job done,” he said. “It was (a big risk), but the risk on the other side was I was 123rd on the Fedex Cup. When you play two Tours, you need to balance the two things. It wasn’t an easy decision, I thought until the last minute whether to go to France or to come here but it seems like it was the right choice in the end.”
Ryan Armour had a 68 to finish second, earning one of four spots up for grabs at Carnoustie, the others going to Sung Kang, Abraham Ancer and Bronson Burgoon.