An Italian won a major title for the first time in golf history, while a legend impressed despite failing to win the tournament.
Francesco Molinari managed to keep his composure down the stretch to win the British Open. The Italian did not succumb to the pressure, holding on the win over heavily favored opponents.
Molinari In Disbelief After The Open Victory
Molinari finished at 8-under 276, and ended up two shots ahead of four players who ended up second. The 35-year-old capped off his excellent performance in the tournament with two crucial birdies down the stretch, while his opponents failed to capitalize on the opportunities they got late in the round.
According to ESPN, Molinari is having the best stretch of his career. He won three times and finished second two times over the past two months, but there is nothing bigger than his victory at Carnoustie. With his victory, the Turin, Italy native is now No. 6 in the world, his highest ranking in his career.
"Just disbelief, to be honest," Molinari said. "To go the weekend bogey-free, it's unthinkable. Playing with Tiger was another challenge. But I felt really good this morning. I felt I was ready for the challenge."
Rory McIlroy, Kevin Kisner, Justin Rose, and Xander Schauffele ended up two shots behind Molinari. Schauffele looked poise to give Molinari a run for his money, as he was just a stroke behind in the 17th hole, but he failed to sustain his momentum, settling for a runner-up finish.
Tiger Woods Falls Short In Latest Major Title Bid
Tiger Woods was on pace to finally end his major title drought heading into the crucial stretch of the tournament. However, the 42-year-old golf legend failed to maintain his excellent run in the tournament.
Woods, who has won The Open three times in his career, was on top of the leaderboard with eight holes left in the tournament. However, a double-bogey at the 11th hole hurt his chances of finally winning another major, settling for a sixth-place finish.
Fans were actually expecting an epic moment for Woods, who has not won a major tournament in a decade. While most fans went home frustrated, the 14-time major champion sounded contented with how he performed at Carnoustie.
"I need to try and keep it in perspective because, the beginning of the year, if they'd have said you're playing The Open Championship, I would have said I'd be very lucky to do that," Woods said via USA Today. "I know that it's going to sting for a little bit here, but given where I was to where I'm at now, blessed."
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