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Molinari brothers dash Irish hopes
Source: Agencies |
November 30, 2009, Monday
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BROTHERS Francesco and Edoardo Molinari edged a dramatic three-way final-round tussle with Sweden and Ireland to claim a first World Cup of Golf for Italy by one stroke yesterday.
The first siblings to lift the John Jay Hopkins Trophy in the 55 versions of the event, the Italians found their putting touch on the back nine to finish with a four-under-par 68 for a total of 29-under for the US$5.5 million tournament at Mission Hills in Dongguan, outside Shenzhen in south China.
Ireland's Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell, who had led all week after an opening 58, carded an error-strewn 70 to share second with defending champion Swedes Henrik Stenson and Robert Karlsson, who shot a 69.
"It's amazing, we don't really have any words," 27-year-old Francesco, who will share a check for US$1.7 million with his brother, said in a greenside TV interview.
"It's been really tough all day, we were playing against some of the best golfers in the world. It was really tough until the last green. But it's even better when it's like this.
"It's really great for Italy and for our family."
Ireland, which had started the final-day foursomes with a one-shot cushion, was drawn into the pack when McIlroy went into the trees with his drive at the third.
The Ulstermen looked to have recovered their nerves, however, with a string of four birdies from the fourth to surge three shots clear.
Sweden, which shot a final-round 63 to win last year, had picked up two shots before dropping its first and only shot of the tournament at the eighth.
Calamity struck for the Irish around the turn, however, when they chalked up two more bogeys at the eighth and 10th holes, the latter when McIlroy missed a two-foot par putt.
The Molinaris, meanwhile, had gone through 10 holes at a steady one-under before three successive birdie putts from Francesco, the second a curling beauty from 30 feet, broke the three-way tie then put the Italians ahead by two.
But the Swedes and Irish cut the lead to one shot with birdies at the 15th before more drama at the 18th.
First Stenson's long birdie putt tracked around the lip of the hole and out and then Edoardo's second shot went into a greenside bunker, while the Irish carved out a birdie chance. World No. 37 Francesco, however, came up with a wedge to two feet and, when McDowell's putt came up short, Edoardo, 28, had a simple par putt for the championship.
England's Ian Poulter and Ross Fisher shot a 64 for fourth on 26-under.
The first siblings to lift the John Jay Hopkins Trophy in the 55 versions of the event, the Italians found their putting touch on the back nine to finish with a four-under-par 68 for a total of 29-under for the US$5.5 million tournament at Mission Hills in Dongguan, outside Shenzhen in south China.
Ireland's Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell, who had led all week after an opening 58, carded an error-strewn 70 to share second with defending champion Swedes Henrik Stenson and Robert Karlsson, who shot a 69.
"It's amazing, we don't really have any words," 27-year-old Francesco, who will share a check for US$1.7 million with his brother, said in a greenside TV interview.
"It's been really tough all day, we were playing against some of the best golfers in the world. It was really tough until the last green. But it's even better when it's like this.
"It's really great for Italy and for our family."
Ireland, which had started the final-day foursomes with a one-shot cushion, was drawn into the pack when McIlroy went into the trees with his drive at the third.
The Ulstermen looked to have recovered their nerves, however, with a string of four birdies from the fourth to surge three shots clear.
Sweden, which shot a final-round 63 to win last year, had picked up two shots before dropping its first and only shot of the tournament at the eighth.
Calamity struck for the Irish around the turn, however, when they chalked up two more bogeys at the eighth and 10th holes, the latter when McIlroy missed a two-foot par putt.
The Molinaris, meanwhile, had gone through 10 holes at a steady one-under before three successive birdie putts from Francesco, the second a curling beauty from 30 feet, broke the three-way tie then put the Italians ahead by two.
But the Swedes and Irish cut the lead to one shot with birdies at the 15th before more drama at the 18th.
First Stenson's long birdie putt tracked around the lip of the hole and out and then Edoardo's second shot went into a greenside bunker, while the Irish carved out a birdie chance. World No. 37 Francesco, however, came up with a wedge to two feet and, when McDowell's putt came up short, Edoardo, 28, had a simple par putt for the championship.
England's Ian Poulter and Ross Fisher shot a 64 for fourth on 26-under.
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