Francesco Molinari said he felt a sense of disbelief after becoming the first Italian to win the Claret Jug, adding that the fact he achieved it while playing with Tiger Woods – who held the outright lead at seven under at one point – made it even more special.
“Tiger himself was great today,” said Molinari, who joked that he might make the headlines back in Italy given Ferrari did not win the German Grand Prix. “He showed really good sportsmanship with me. Obviously, there’s a lot more people [around] if you’re grouped with him than if I’m playing some of the other guys.
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“I’ve played with him before in Ryder Cups and in big occasions, so I knew what was coming, and I was ready for it. I was calm – you know, as calm as you can be playing in the last round of a major close to the lead, playing with Tiger. I focused on my process and on hitting good shots and on playing smart golf.”
The 35-year-old from Turin, who was inspired to become a golfer after watching Costantino Rocca on TV going close at the 1995 Open at St Andrews, said he hoped his win would have an inspirational effect on others back home. “The last round already was big news in Italy. Obviously, to achieve something like this is on another level. Hopefully, there were a lot of young kids watching on TV today, like I was watching Costantino coming so close. Hopefully they will get as inspired as I was at the time, watching him vie for the Claret Jug.
“To look at the names on that Claret Jug, obviously, what can you say? It’s the best golfers in history and to be on there it’s incredible. From someone like me coming from Italy, not really a major golfing country, it’s been an incredible journey.”
Molinari, who won with a total of eight under par, also said he was proud of his feat of managing to stay bogey free through the weekend, when the wind became more of a factor for what was his third win of the season and his first major title.
“For the first time I felt I was ready for it. Winning at Wentworth and in the States,” said the Italian, whose triumph at Carnoustie forced him to cancel plans to leave Scotland on a 9pm Easyjet flight on Sunday. “Not many Europeans have managed to achieve that.
Tiger Woods lights up the Open but Claret Jug slips through his grasp | Kevin Mitchell Read more
“I got here only Monday lunchtime from the States and walked a few holes, and I saw it was firm and fast and the rough wasn’t too bad,” added Molinari, whose previous best finish was tied for ninth in 2013. “It reminded me of Muirfield. Obviously, that was a great experience to play with [the eventual winner] Phil [Mickelson] in the last round and to see someone doing the job, getting the job done on Sunday. So I liked the way the course was playing but, again, it’s a beast of a course. So I don’t think anyone feels too confident when they stand on that first tee at Carnoustie.”
Molinari also admitted he tends not to contest the Dunhill Links Championship in the autumn as he has been “beaten up” on the links at Carnoustie a few times. “I didn’t particularly enjoy that feeling. It’s a really tough course. You can try and play smart golf, but some shots you just have to hit it straight. There’s no way around it. You can’t really hide.”
He added that he only started to believe he could win it when the young American Xander Schauffele missed a par putt at the 17th to slip two behind the lead with one hole to go. “I thought there was maybe a 5% chance. I couldn’t watch Xander play the last two holes, to be honest,” he said. “That’s why I went to the putting green because I probably would have felt sick watching on TV.”
Reflecting on his final score of six under par, which gave him a share of second place, Rory McIlroy said: “I don’t leave here with regrets, I played a good tournament but this week is just wasn’t good enough.”
Open championships at Carnoustie have developed an association with the grisly elements of golf. The last time the oldest major was staged here Sergio García was reduced to tears following play-off defeat by Pádraig Harrington. The Open of 1999 will for ever be synonymous with Jean van de Velde’s 72nd‑hole capitulation.
Francesco Molinari has the hardly insignificant consolation of the Claret Jug as a household accessory, given he may now be portrayed as the man who killed Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy in a single gory act. Stewart Cink, who triggered sighs when ending Tom Watson’s epic Open quest in 2009, is unburdened now.
Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose fall two shots shy in quest for Open triumph | Mark Tallentire Read more
For so long on Sunday afternoon one of the most extraordinary stories in golf was playing out. Tiger Woods, amid his latest comeback from personal and professional trauma, led the Open. Suddenly it was oh so real.
That the 42-year-old could not complete the claiming of a 15th major, a decade after number 14, owed more to Woods hitting the self-destruct button than the landing of body blows by the understated Molinari but there was still despondency in the Carnoustie air. There was not even the marquee backup option of success for Rory McIlroy or Jordan Spieth to soften the blow. Look what you could have won.
None of this, of course, should take away from Molinari’s latest and biggest triumph. His accuracy under the most extreme of pressures was robot-like. The fact he played in the company of Woods when hitting a bogey-free 69 should only heighten appreciation of the 35-year-old’s achievement. Molinari’s home city of Turin is typically famous for cars. Italy has a well‑versed passion for football. Another sport has delivered a new national hero; it can only be hoped this is properly recognised.
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Francesco Molinari shakes hands with playing partner Tiger Woods at the end of their round. Photograph: Harry How/Getty Images
It was odd, in a way, that Molinari’s eight‑under‑par success came by the relatively comfortable margin of two shots. This had been a tense final day played in whipping winds, distinctive early on for how many players had the top of the leaderboard within view. McIlroy, Justin Rose, Xander Schauffele and Kevin Kisner shared second.
Rose’s weekend showing – he signed off with a 69 – was terrific. He had knocked in a lengthy birdie putt on the 36th hole to survive the cut by one. Two days later he stood with wedge in hand in what bore endearing similarity to his Open debut 20 years ago. Rose holed his approach shot at Birkdale; here, he played the iron to tap-in range. “It brought back memories for sure,” Rose admitted. “I was thinking, ‘Can I do it again?’ I very nearly did.”
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Drama attached to Woods had started with his birdie at the 6th. Moments later Schauffele and Spieth dropped shots; Woods was within one of the lead. At 25 minutes to five Woods was the solo leader. He later played one of the shots of the tournament, from a hazardous fairway bunker on the 10th to within 20ft of the hole.
The 11th was to prove Woods’s Carnoustie nemesis. Missing the green to the left should not have been a disaster but his attempted flop shot could not reach the putting surface. The double bogey left eight players within a shot of the lead. Woods played the closing stretch in level, his 71 and five-under aggregate enough only for a tie for sixth with Kevin Chappell and Eddie Pepperell, who revealed he had started day four with a hangover. Pepperell duly produced a 65.
A year ago it was doubtful whether Woods would play competitive golf again. A decade ago he would never have failed to press home the advantage he earned here. “I’m a little ticked off at myself,” he conceded before leaving Scotland.
McIlroy’s Sunday was in neutral before the kind of special moment that so often separates him from the rest. The Northern Irishman converted a 70ft eagle putt at the 14th, which suddenly catapulted him into a six-way tie for the lead. With an hour to play the championship was wonderfully hard to call.
Tiger Woods lights up the Open but Claret Jug slips through his grasp | Kevin Mitchell Read more
McIlroy does not really have cause to rue a birdie chance at the last which slid agonisingly past, given Molinari finished two ahead of him anyway. McIlroy belied a few myths during the week relating to his supposed inability to contest at firm venues, windy venues or when the rain batters down. McIlroy was happy to turn immediate attention to praise of Molinari. “He is a fantastic golfer and a great guy,” the 2014 champion said.
Spieth, who started day four in a share of the lead, was derailed by a double bogey at the par‑five 6th. The Texan had to take a drop after landing his second shot in a bush. The defending champion did not collect another shot thereafter, with a bogey at the 15th all but ending his hopes of retaining the Claret Jug. Spieth’s 76 – the highest score of any player in the last eight Sunday groups – slid him back to tied ninth. Spieth was clearly irked at being warned for slow play by tournament officials, midway through his last round. “I think I played the fastest golf I’ve probably ever played while contending in a tournament,” he said.
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Thomas Bjorn, Europe’s Ryder Cup captain, led the immediate tributes towards Molinari, a player now guaranteed to form part of the home contingent in France this year. “Is he a man or a machine?” asked Bjorn of Molinari. After five major successes in a row for American players, this was a boost to a golfing continent. Molinari stepped firmly out of Woods’s major shadow; not many players can lay claim to that. Brillante, Francesco.
Media playback is not supported on this device Nerveless Francesco Molinari cards 69 to win Open title
The 147th Open Championship - final leaderboard -8 F Molinari (Ita); -6 J Rose (Eng), R McIlroy (NI), K Kisner (US), X Schauffele (US); -5 E Pepperell (Eng), T Woods (US), K Chappell (US); -4 T Finau (US), M Kuchar (US), J Spieth (US) Selected others: -3 T Fleetwood (Eng); -2 J Day (Aus), A Scott (Aus), Z Johnson (US); -1 P Mickelson (US), B Langer (Ger), D Willett (Eng)
Francesco Molinari has become the first Italian to win a major, holding off a pack of star names to claim The Open Championship at Carnoustie.
Molinari produced a faultless final round of 69 in windy conditions on the Scottish links to finish eight under.
He finished two ahead of four players, including home favourites Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy, tied on six under.
Tiger Woods finished five under after leading midway through the round, with Jordan Spieth on four under.
Molinari, 35, emerged from a six-way tie for the lead, when all the players were either on the back nine or in the clubhouse, to lift the Claret Jug.
The Europe Ryder Cup player started the final day three shots adrift of overnight leaders Spieth, Kevin Kisner and Xander Schauffele, but maintained composure while his rivals all dropped shots in a thrilling battle for the lead.
"It is absolutely amazing," Molinari said. "I think it will take a long time to sink in. It has been a great week.
"The course bit me a few times in the first two days, but to go bogey-free around this track at the weekend is incredible."
Molinari takes form onto the biggest stage
Media playback is not supported on this device Francesco Molinari wins Open Championship with birdie at 18
Molinari, ranked 15th in the world, had been tipped by a number of experts before the tournament as a player to watch at Carnoustie - and he proved them right with an assured display over the four days.
Despite a modest Open record, he had been backed on the strength of a fine few months that saw him claim the PGA Championship at Wentworth - his biggest win on the European Tour - and his maiden PGA Tour victory at the Quicken Loans Classic.
Steady opening rounds of 70 and 72 took him into the weekend, before a stunning 65 on Saturday propelled him into contention.
Molinari stressed the importance of making pars on Sunday in an interview after his third round, and he fulfilled his target by beginning with 13 pars in succession in testing conditions.
That steady sequence was ended with a birdie on the par-five 14th, before a glorious approach on the 18th allowed him to pick up another shot.
After finishing his round, Molinari looked anxious as he waited in the scorer's cabin, watching nearest remaining challenger Schauffele bogey the 17th.
The 24-year-old American needed to eagle the last hole to force a play-off, but his approach landed short, allowing Molinari to celebrate with his caddie and wife.
Woods back among the world's best
Media playback is not supported on this device Woods signs glove for fan after hitting him with shot
Woods is a global star who has transcended the sport since he won his first major at the 1997 Masters aged 21.
Thirteen more majors followed over the next 11 years as the American looked on course to break Jack Nicklaus' tally of 18 major victories - a record that has stood since 1986.
But his career derailed when a series of personal scandals were followed by a serious back injury, leaving many questioning whether he would ever return to anywhere near his best.
Ranked 650th at the start of the year, Woods has answered that positively with his lowest 72-hole total at a major since the 2012 Open.
Woods' surge was accompanied by fervent support on the Scottish links, with a buzz of excitement following the 42-year-old around the course and on social media. His challenge helped attract a record crowd of 172,000 attend over the week.
Two birdies on the front nine on Sunday, coupled with dropped shots for Spieth and Schauffele, helped him take the outright lead of a major for the first time since his peak years.
But a double bogey at the 11th derailed his bid for a first major since the 2008 US Open and, although a birdie on the 14th briefly reignited his hopes, he had to settle for a share of sixth place after signing for a level-par 71.
Rose and McIlroy come close
Media playback is not supported on this device McIlroy eagles 14 to put him back in with a chance
England's Rose and Northern Ireland's McIlroy were rated as the leading home hopes going into the 147th Championship and still had outside chances when they stepped onto the first tee on Sunday.
Rose only just made the cut by sinking a birdie on the 18th in Friday's second round, but a career-best round at a major of 64 on Saturday gave him hope of a first Open title.
Meanwhile, McIlroy started the day a shot better off at five under as he aimed to claim his first major since the 2014 PGA Championship.
Both players appeared to have lost their chances of threatening the top of the leaderboard until they each made an eagle at the par-five 14th - Carnoustie's easiest hole - to move back into the reckoning.
Rose also birdied the last to finish on six under, a score that was matched by McIlroy shortly afterwards with pars on the final four holes.
A play-off looked their best hope of an unlikely success - until Molinari also took advantage of the 14th to take control.
Another Englishman, Tommy Fleetwood, moved to six under with a birdie on the first, only to drop four shots in three holes before the turn and end up three under for the tournament with a two-over 73.
Fleetwood finished two shots adrift of compatriot Eddie Pepperell, who shot a 67 - the lowest round of the final day - to earn his best finish at a major.
Pepperell, 27, was set to commentate for BBC Radio 5 live before claiming a late qualification spot, going on to finish in sixth place and earning prize money of £287,000.
Overnight leaders Spieth and Schauffele fade
Defending champion Spieth was looking to become the first man since Padraig Harrington in 1998 to win back-to-back Open titles - which he also achieved on Royal Birkdale and Carnoustie.
The 24-year-old American was the favourite to reclaim the Claret Jug going into the final round, holding a share of the lead at nine under with Schauffele.
Both players dropped three shots between the fifth and seventh holes, though, dealing a major blow to their chances of victory.
Spieth dropped two more shots on the back nine to card a five-over 76, while Schauffele signed for a three-over 74.
"We were in the strangest spots possible on the golf course, where we didn't think we would be," said Schauffele.
"Every time I looked up at the leaderboard, there's four, five, six guys in the lead, and five, six guys one back.
"I figured looking at the board isn't going to do me any good and I was just happy to claw my way back in a little bit."
'Hottest player on the planet!' - golfers react to Molinari's win
Former Masters champion Sergio Garcia tweeted his congratulations to Molinari
World number two Justin Thomas saw Molinari's quality up close in the opening two rounds
European Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn was pleased to see one of his key players maintain their fine form
South African Branden Grace, who shot a low round of 62 at The Open last year, praised Molinari's game
Even on days when Francesco Molinari allowed himself to contemplate lifting the Claret Jug and become the first Italian to win a major, he could not have imagined a scenario as perfect as this.
On a breathless, stupendous day punctuated by magic and mistakes in equal measure, it was the slow and steady progress of the London-based man from Turin that won the race.
With Tiger Woods by his side and Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose in the clubhouse on a total of six under par, Molinari knew he couldn't afford any mistakes on the formidable par four 18th.
Francesco Molinari got his hands on the Claret Jug after triumphing at The Open on a dramatic final day at Carnoustie
Thirty-five-year-old Molinari raised his trophy aloft after winning the first major championship of his career
Molinari looked rightfully proud as he posed with the famous prize in the evening sunshine at Carnoustie Golf Club
Valentina Molinari joined her history-making husband for a priceless photo opportunity with the Claret Jug
Mrs Molinari, who married Francesco in 2007, linked arms with the champion as they both smiled for the cameras
Molinari planted a kiss on the Claret Jug after the prestigious trophy had been inscribed with his now immortal name
The 35-year-old hits so many drives straight and true he is often referred to as a machine by his fellow pros, and here was one more. Now he had just 113 yards to cover with his approach. On the green was the ball of Woods, just 7ft away.
Amidst a picture postcard scene of blue skies and packed grandstands, and accompanied by the greatest player of the last 30 years, Molinari took dead aim. All day he had listened to the roars signalling the bombardment of heavy artillery. McIlroy holed a 50ft bomb for an eagle at the 14th as part of a wonderful back nine.
Rose, the man who only made the halfway cut by the skin of his teeth, hit the flagstick with his approach to the 14th for a tap-in eagle as he followed his 64 on Saturday with a fabulous 69.
Molinari had also had a ringside seat on the front nine as Woods give an uncanny impression of the man who once dominated the game. But through it all he had not flinched. He didn't blink now, either.
Molinari judged his sand wedge approach perfectly, the ball skipping twice and finishing inside Woods's ball. Just as he had done all day, he rapped home the short putt and allowed himself a hearty fist pump, following an unblemished round of 69, featuring two birdies and 16 pars.
Woods congratulated him warmly and told him: 'You played beautifully all day.' There was still a chance he could be caught by American Xander Schauffele, who needed to replicate Molinari's par-birdie finish. He retreated to the practice putting green with the Southport man Phil Kenyon, who has done so much for the putting of not only Molinari, but Rose and Tommy Fleetwood.
Italian Molinari punched the air after sinking a birdie putt on the 18th hole at The Open on Sunday evening
Champion Molinari hugged his caddie after finishing his final round at The Open with a birdie on the 18th hole at Carnoustie
Molinari shot a bogey-free, two-under round of 69 on Sunday to finish eight under overall – which saw him win by two strokes
The result made Molinari the first ever Italian to win a major championship and he was supported by countrymen in the crowd
Twenty-four-year-old American Xander Schauffele was one of four players who tied for second at Carnoustie on four under
Englishman Justin Rose was also tied for second, after carding a two-under 69 on the final day, with a birdie on the 18th
When Schauffele bogeyed the 17th, McIlroy appeared by the side of the green and gave Molinari the thumbs-up. Still he would not move. Only when Schauffele had played his approach and all doubt had been removed did he embrace Kenyon.
PRIZE MONEY 1st. £1,439,121.00 2nd. £832,253.92 3rd. £533,769.44 4th. £414,984.80 5th. £333,510.72 6th. £289,347.20 7th. £248,229.44 8th. £209,396.00 9th. £183,507.04 10th. £165,993.92
Molinari has long been considered one of the nicest men in golf and one of its best ball strikers, under the expert tutelage of Englishman Dennis Pugh. But it's the improvement in his short game and the strengthening of his mind with the help of another Englishman, sports psychologist Dave Alred, that has brought about a startling transformation.
Over the last two months it has resulted in a stunning body of work, including a victory in Europe's flagship event, the BMW PGA Championship and his first win on the PGA Tour.
Now he's become the man to end American dominance at the majors, something he had talked about on the eve of the championship. 'Every European wants to end their winning streak,' he told Sportsmail.
Goodness, it was close. Schauffele had his chances and so did defending champion Jordan Spieth, Kevin Chappell, and Kevin Kisner. The man who had the biggest chance of all, though, was the bloke marking Molinari's card.
Setting up this mesmerising final round were 10 holes from Woods that must have left the entire sporting world daring to dream. The last time he led any major on Sunday was in 2011 at the Masters but that was the position he found himself in with nine holes to play.
The 42-year-old had begun four shots off the lead but that all changed following a majestic and skilfully plotted outward half that reached its apex down Hogan's Alley, the par five 6th.
Rory McIlroy looked frustrated on the final green but also shared second place, after carding 70 for a second consecutive day
Tiger Woods threatened to win his first major since 2008 but ultimately finished joint-sixth on five under par
Courteous in defeat, 42-year-old Woods congratulated Molinari on the 18th green as the two players shared a handshake
On this day it was a beast of a par five, one Spieth and Tommy Fleetwood both double bogeyed. Woods struck a three wood and two putted for his second birdie of the round. Two sand saves at the 8th and 9th took him out in 34 shots and a story that could only be described in terms of a sporting earthquake had moved into view.
Behind him, the players who had begun with a useful advantage were struggling in the conditions and playing into Tiger's hands. All the stars appeared to align. The defending champion Spieth had to take an unplayable at the 6th, on his way to a desperately disappointing 76; Kevin Kisner double bogeyed the second. Schauffele, the third American who began on nine under, dropped four shots in three holes.
When Tiger played a miraculous fairway bunker shot at the 10th, all the agonies he's been through were melting away along with the years as we contemplated his first major victory for a decade.
A final look at the leaderboard showed Molinari two shots clear of his closest rivals as the clock passed 7pm in Scotland
The scoreboard had message for Molinari, which read: 'WELL PLAYED FRANCESCO. SEE YOU AT ROYAL PORTRUSH 2019'
Then harsh reality stepped in, the sort of mistakes he would never make in his prime. Given what had gone before, the mess he made of the 11th, as he took four shots from nowhere for his first double bogey of the tournament, was shocking. A bogey at the 12th, and a tournament one man appeared to have under his control had become anyone's.
What happened over the next 90 minutes touched the heights of golfing perfection, where one player after another came up with a prodigious deed to stake their claim. At one point, there was a six-way tie for the lead, with three players a further stroke behind.
In the midst of it all, the softly spoken man often referred to as the pro's pro churned out his pars, and delivered the sort of accomplished, unfussy round that invariably wins an Open at Carnoustie.
A sublime day at the 147th edition might not have ended with the champion golfer the sporting world craved, but no-one could deny the coronation of a worthy one.
