THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP REVIEW
Molinari the
Magnicent Francesco Molinari produced a bogey-free round under the most extreme pressure to end on eight-under, two strokes clear of the field, and become the first Italian to win a Major golf title at Carnoustie, writes Louie Chan.
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n ten previous appearances at the world’s oldest major, Francesco Molinari had missed four cuts and only once has he finished inside the top 10 - back in 2013. However, few players are in richer form than the 35-year-old Italian, who won his maiden PGA Tour title by a large eight strokes last month and claimed the biggest European Tour crown of his career at Wentworth in May. Those wins have brought riches a nd expectation, but this brings something more valuable - a place in his nation’s sporting history. "I feel disbelief. It is amazing to be here with the Claret Jug,” Molinari said, after incredibly managing to play 36 holes of weekend golf, on one of the world's most demanding courses, without dropping a shot, "to look at the names on the Claret Jug, they are the best in history. For me, to come from Italy, it has been an incredible journey.”
AFP/Glyn Kirk
Francesco Molinari poses for pictures with the Claret Jug after winning the 147th Open Championship at Carnoustie 34
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Molinari started the day three shots back from leaders Jordan Spieth, Kevin Kisner and Xander Schauffele and kept his head while all around were losing theirs. Tiger Woods rolled back the years for the second straight day, producing a swaggering front nine as he surged to the top of the leaderboard. It seemed fate this group would produce the Champion Golfer and so it did, just not the one expected. Woods's playing partner Molinari kept his head down and maintained his focus, and he was not interested in playing a supporting r o l e . T h e 14 - t i m e M a j o r c h a m p i o n ultimately finished three shots back from the Italian, a double bogey at 11 and bogey at 12 ultimately denying those who wanted to write a fairytale story. Molinari picked up a birdie on the 14th to put himself top of the leaderboard - which at one point was crowded with six players who
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THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP REVIEW
Tiger Wood tees off in the final round
couldn’t be separated. However, a brilliant and nerveless 18th - a hole that has been the undoing of so many at Carnoustie over the years - sealed his victory, his first birdie there this week. He went to the putting green to prepare for the play-off, but when Xander Schauffele, his nearest rival, dropped a shot at the 17th, meaning he needed an eagle, at last, it was all over. "I could not watch Xander play the last two holes, so I went to the putting green. I would have been sick," added Molinari, "Tiger was great. There are a lot more people if you are grouped with him than if you are playing with some of the other guys. I have done it before, so I knew what was coming. Justin Rose, who needed a birdie at the 18th on Friday to make the cut, finished in a t ie for second wit h Ror y McI lroy, whose cha rge ign ited , f l ickered a nd ultimately faded. Americans Kevin Kisner and Schauffele joined them two shots back of Molinari. Then came Woods and England’s Eddie Pepperell, who posted the best round of the day with a 67. Scotland’s Sam Locke won the Silver Medal for leading amateur.
Rickie Fowler and Jon Rahm on day two of the 147th Open Championship 36
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LEADING FINAL SCORES 1
Francesco Molinari
Italy
70 72 65 69
276
2= Justin Rose
England
72 73 64 69
278
Northern Ireland
69 69 70 70
278
United States
66 70 68 74
278
United States
71 66 67 74
278
6= Eddie Pepperell
England
71 70 71 67
279
Tiger Woods
United States
71 71 66 71
279
Kevin Chappell
United States
70 69 67 74
279
9= Tony Finau
United States
67 71 71 71
280
Matt Kuchar
United States
70 68 70 72
280
Jordan Spieth
United States
72 67 65 76
280
Rory McIlroy Kevin Kisner
Xander Schauffele
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©Rolex/Chris Turvey
Top: ©Rolex/Thomas Lovelock; below: ©Rolex/Chris Turvey
A view of the 18th hole at Carnoustie
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