Two Strokes And Two Hours To A Win
Molinari Fires Sizzling 64 To Win Arnold Palmer Invitational
Italy's Francesco Molinari unleashed the greatest putting performance of his career on Sunday, firing a final-round eight-under par 64 to win the US PGA Arnold Palmer Invitational by two strokes.
The 36-year-old from Turin, who took an extended rest after a career-best 2018 campaign, sank every putt from inside 15 feet to charge from five shots back and finish on 12-under par 276 with a bogey-free final round at Bay Hill in Orlando, Florida. ”Incredible," Molinari said. "It's high up there with the best wins I've had." An 18th-hole birdie from 43 feet closed out what reigning British Open champion Molinari called "probably my best putting round ever," a claim supported by his 164.5 feet of putts made Sunday, the most by him in any US PGA round. He won for the fourth time in the last nine months, and in his first start since signing a new equipment deal.
Molinari watched his birdie putt kiss off the pin and into the cup, and the normally reserved Italian raised his fist and hammered it down in celebration, knowing that would make him hard to beat. "It's a pretty iconic putt," he said. "I'm pretty sure I'm the first guy to make it with the flag in, though, so that's the real difference.
"Obviously, I was trying to lag it close to
the hole and it came out on a great line and maybe a little firmer than I wanted, but the line was just right and incredible to see it going in," he said. "I've seen so many putts on TV like that, and to do it myself is really amazing."
The new Rules of Golf allow the flag to be left in for putts in the green, and most players leave it there on long putts.
Molinari, Europe's hero in last year's Ryder Cup victory over the United States in France, sank a 20-foot birdie putt on the opening hole, made another birdie from 44 feet at the par-4 eighth, dropped yet another from 18 feet at the 13th and two-putted from 20 feet to birdie the par-5 16th. "I could have done a lot more than that to be honest," Molinari said. "It was really amazing to see."
England's Matthew Fitzpatrick, the 54-hole leader by a stroke over Rory Mcilroy, fired a 71 to settle for second on 278 with South Korea's Im Sung-jae, England's Tommy Fleetwood and Spain's Rafa Cabrera Bello sharing third on 279.
Im took one of three available spots for the British Open to those not yet qualified with the others going to South Korean Kang Sung and American Keith Mitchell, who shared sixth on 280 with Northern Ireland's Mcilroy and England's Matt Wallace.
For Mcilroy, it marked the seventh time in the last 12 months that he played in the final group on the last day without a victory to show for it.
Molinari finished 90 minutes ahead of the final group, then watched the last 10 pairings reach the clubhouse trying in vain to match his magical run to a third win in his past 12 US PGA starts.
The Arnold Palmer Invitational is named for one of Molinari's sporting idols. "I'm just super glad," he said. "It's great to get it done here at Arnie's place, knowing my wife and kids are watching back home.
"It's a special, special one. Arnie was a special player but also a special person and a global icon. He and Jack (Nicklaus) were up there with the gods."
Molinari said he didn't approach the final round with any special ideas of clawing his way back, instead seeking opportunities as they came along. "No game plan really, just trying to hit good shots and give myself chances," Molinari said. "I saw the course got firm and fast."