First Major for Francesco, and for Italy
Italian Francesco Molinari stole The Open show in Scotland (19-22 July) in a thrilling head-to-head battle with an army of Americans, including Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth. In his usual quiet manner, the 35-year old from Turin won the 147th Open Championship at Carnoustie, his first Major victory, by a cool two strokes with rounds of 70, 72, 65 and 69, leaving four players trailing behind him in a tie for second place on six-under par. It’s the first time that an Italian golfer has won a Major giving Molinari and his fans double cause for celebration. It’s also Molinari’s second big victory this season having won the prestigious BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, Surrey in May.
In all, he has won six tournaments on the European Tour since he turned professional in 2004. His terrific form this season has also seen him win on the PGA Tour. His maiden victory in America came in the ‘Quicken Loans National’ which he won by 8 strokes after closing with an impressive 62.
Molinari’s victory in The Open, for which he received a chunky prize-cheque of 1,625,387 euros, moves him to sixth place in the Official World Golf Ranking. It also catapults him once again to the top of the Ryder Cup European Points List. And that’s a happy prospect for the European Team when they play in Paris in September.
Molte congratulazioni, Francesco Molinari! Enjoy being the Open Champion!
Wendy Hoad
CHECK OUT the final scoreboard and prize money HERE
PICTURED: The newly-crowned 2018 Open Champion Francesco Molinari.