Victory after head-to-head clash with McIlroy
Italian Francesco Molinari had a dream week at Wentworth (24-27 May) in Surrey, England to seize the BMW PGA Championship title, his fifth victory on the European Tour, in great style on the testing, recently redesigned West Course. Day by day, the 35-year old from Turin patiently worked his way up the leader-board from a position of joint 29th, after opening with a round of 70, to get to fifth position at the halfway stage, and then finally a share of the lead ready for Sunday’s showdown with former World Number One, Rory McIlroy.
The threat of thunderstorms on Sunday perhaps worked in Molinari’s favour. Not only were tee-times brought forward, but the final round was also played in three-balls which meant that last year’s runner-up didn’t have such a lonely, icy head-to-head battle with home-favourite McIlroy. The congenial Englishman Ross Fisher played alongside the overnight leaders who were four ahead of him on 13-under par.
Dane finishes in a flourish
With two holes still to play, Molinari was three strokes clear of his nearest rival, Lucas Bjerregaard. The Dane, who had led the tournament on day one with a round of 65, was safely in the clubhouse on 14-under par after closing with another terrific 65 on Sunday. The rest of the chasing pack were just one stroke further back among them the halfway leader from Northern Ireland, Rory McIlroy; Branden Grace (South Africa); Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Thailand), as well as the defending champion from Sweden, Alex Noren.
McIlroy then piled the pressure on by making a birdie at the par 5, 17th to get to 14-under par and thrill the throngs that were gathered there. It was all happening on that hole in that corner of the course. Fans were either witness to a beautiful birdie or were sitting duck for an unexpected golf ball on the head!
Despite not having brought his A-game to Wentworth at the weekend, McIlory had battled his way into a share of second spot with Bjerregaard at this point. There was a glimpse of light for the Northern Irishman. If he could birdie the 18th and get to 16-under for the tournament, his reward would be second position outright. An eagle would perhaps see Molinari crumble under the pressure. Players of Rory’s calibre, naturally, go for the win.
Rory battles to the bitter end
And so it was that McIlroy had the honour at the final hole playing alongside Ross Fisher (England) and the Italian. Dressed in a fuchsia pink polo shirt, which looked splendid against the blooming rhododendron bushes of the West Course at Wentworth, the former World Number One blasted a monster drive down the last to give himself the best possible chance of getting on the green in two and making eagle.
Things looked to be going McIlroy’s way when Sam Horsfield, playing in the group ahead, came up short in the water at the 18th causing a wee hold-up. A time delay which could have caused leader Molinari’s nerves to jangle down the final straight. A double-bogey, bogey finish for Horsfield saw the young Englishman’s name slide down to 15th spot on the scoreboard.
Defending champion Noren, then birdied the 18th to get himself into a share of second place on 14-under. Shortly after, Grace’s birdie putt slipped past the hole leaving the South African at 13-under. All Molinari needed now was a steady par to finish-off his round and seize his first BMW PGA Championship title; a victory which he had narrowly missed at Wentworth last year.
Molinari escapes watery grave
McIlroy played a solid second shot into the heart of the green. But the Italian continued to hold his nerve down the final hole and kept to his game plan. However, his tactic of playing safe at the 476 metre-long, par 5 18th by laying-up short with his second shot, rather than attacking the green in two with a risky shot over the water, nearly came unstuck. His third shot, a pitch to the pin, came spinning back off the green and trickled slowly down the slope and off the green. The packed grandstands gasped in disbelief. His ball then somehow managed to cling on to a narrow strip of apron which separated Molinari from the water irises and a watery grave which could have cost him the championship.
McIlroy’s putt for eagle pulled-up an agonising few centimetres shy of the hole. He had to settle for birdie and a final score of 15-under par. Meanwhile, Molinari ‘s chip from the edge of the green also pulled-up short leaving him with a nervy putt for par. But the pressure was now off and the Italian calmly holed-out in style to become the new BMW PGA Champion, with a score of 271 (70-67-66-68), two strokes clear of runner-up McIlroy.
The European Tour’s flagship tournament attracted more than 111,000 golf fans at Wentworth this year. And if the golf wasn’t exciting enough, the band ‘Simple Minds’ gave a live concert after the prize-giving to delight the Sunday crowds still further. Perhaps there is a message here for the disillusioned golfers who missed the cut: ‘Keep it simple!’
Molte congratulazioni, Francesco Molinari!
Wendy Hoad
MAIN PHOTOGRAPH: The victorious 2018 BMW PGA Champion, Francesco Molinari. MINIS: Rory McIlroy (in fuchsia pink) and Francesco Molinari.