The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)

Molinari wins National, Woods ties for fourth

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POTOMAC, MD. » Francesco Molinari delivered a record performanc­e to win the final edition of the Quicken Loans National.

Molinari holed a 50-foot eagle putt to start the back nine, and he never stopped until he turned the final round into a runaway Sunday at the TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm. The Italian closed with an 8-under 62 for an eight-shot victory, matching the largest margin this year on the PGA Tour.

Molinari followed that eagle putt with an approach to 2 feet on No. 11, one of the hardest par 4s on tour that had yielded only one other birdie in the final round. He made three more birdies and ended his round by missing a birdie putt from 8 feet.

No matter. He finished at 21-under 259, breaking the tournament record by seven shots.

Tiger Woods closed with a 66, his lowest final round in more than five years, and he was never close. Woods tied for fourth, his best result since a runner-up finish at the Valspar Championsh­ip three months ago, though he was 10 shots behind.

Ryan Armour had a 68 to finish second, earning one of four spots to the British Open. The other three spots went to Sung Kang, who finished third after a 64; Abraham Ancer, who tied for fourth after a 72; and Bronson Burgoon, who had a day he won’t forget. He played with Woods for the first time and experience larger crowds and louder noise than he had ever experience­d. And with a birdie on the final hole for a 67, he tied for sixth to earn his first trip to the British Open.

LPGA TOUR

KILDEER, ILL. » Sung Hyun Park beat So Yeon Ryu on the second hole of a playoff in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championsh­ip for her second major title.

After a brief rain delay on the par-4 16th hole at Kemper Lakes, Ryu’s birdie try rolled past, and Park finished off her South Korean compatriot with a 10-footer. Park raised her arms and placed her hands on her head before hugging her caddie and wiping away tears.

Japanese teen Nasa Hataoko, after shooting an 8-under 64 to post at 10 under, dropped out of the playoff with a par on the par-4 18th.

Ryu made a 20-footer for birdie from the fringe, and Park followed from 10 feet.

 ?? NICK WASS — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ?? Francesco Molinari, left, of Italy, poses with Tiger Woods and the trophy after he won the Quicken Loans National golf tournament, Sunday in Potomac, Md.
NICK WASS — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Francesco Molinari, left, of Italy, poses with Tiger Woods and the trophy after he won the Quicken Loans National golf tournament, Sunday in Potomac, Md.

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