Meet Francesco Molinari, the Italian who edged McIlroy to win European PGA
Italian Francesco Molinari goes bogey-free on the weekend to capture the BMW PGA Championship by two shots over Rory McIlroy.
Francesco Molinari outplayed Rory McIlroy with a flawless round to win the BMW PGA Championship. The 35-year-old Italian produced a bogey-free round of 67 to finish two shots clear of McIlroy and capture his fifth European Tour title.
Molinari and McIlroy came into the final round tied for the lead at 13-under, four shots ahead of the rest of the field. It was the Italian who gained the advantage from the start. He birdied three holes on the front-nine to open up a three shot gap. From there Molinari played solid golf. He made one birdie on the back-nine and pars on the rest to preserve his lead.
“It feels amazing, really. If there was one tournament I really wanted to win it was this one,” he said. “I’ve been close many times. The difference was, today I had a little bit of luck at the right time. Sometimes it’s your week and sometimes it isn’t.”
McIlroy, meanwhile, was stuck in neutral. Even par though 16, he went to the last hole needing an eagle to have a chance. He found the green in two on the par-5, but his 30-foot putt came up just short. Suddenly any hope he had was lost.
McIlroy was in a prime position to win this tournament for the second time coming into the weekend. Following the second round he was three shots ahead of the field. Disappointing rounds of 71-70 to close saw him fall short.
“Just disappointed I didn’t play better over the weekend. You know, I was in a good position after two days, struggled yesterday and sort of struggled today again as well,” he said. “Just couldn’t get it going. I let Francesco get a few shots ahead on me, and I just couldn’t claw that back.”
Molinari played mistake-free golf all week. His last bogey came on the 10th hole in the second round, and he made just two in the tournament.
“The game was very good mentally. I was very solid. Obviously the last few holes today were a bit different. When you have the lead you should still be attacking, but it’s not that easy. I did well, I think. Eighteen, probably, I could have played a little bit safer. But it was enough, and that’s all that matters.”
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Molinari has a solid track record at Wentworth Club. He finished in the top ten five of the last six years, including a runner-up finish last year. He was also tied for second at the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow last year. What eluded him was the win. That is, until today.
With the title Molinari ties Costantino Rocca for most wins by an Italian on the European Tour. He is the first Italian to win this event since Matteo Manassero in 2013.
Defending champion Alex Noren tied with 26-year-old Dane Lucas Bjerregaard in third at 14-under, three behind Molinari. Bjerregaard had the low round of the day with a 65 for his best finish at the European Tour’s flagship event.
“It was solid today. I wasn’t in trouble much. Hit it great off the tee. It was a nice way to finish the week,” he said.
Molinari will tee off in his native country for the Italian Open next week. He won the event in 2016. His win today gave him confidence he could do it again.
“I think I showed today that if I play my best I’m hard to beat. I just need to do it more often,” he said.
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