It’s all about grisly elements of Golf at the Open Championship. 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.

 

 

 

 

India's Shubhankar Sharma squandered a brilliant start to card two-over 73 and finish with a four-day total of four-over 288 at the 147th British Open here on Sunday.          

 

Molinari produced a two-under 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 leaderboard was dominated by big names indeed

 

 

 

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."

 

 

Sharma caps a memorable debut

 

 

 

 

                                        “I can’t wait to come back here again next time," said Shubhankar 

 

 

The result may not have resonated with Shubhankar’s dreams but the lessons learnt will help Shubhankar evolve into the golfer he can be on the journey ahead. The 22-year-old was at the provisional 53rd spot with several competitors yet to complete their fourth and final round at the Carnoustie Golf Links. Shubhankar got birdies on the third and fifth holes and was playing smoothly until he bogeyed the eighth hole. Thereafter his momentum worsened as he made three more bogeys on the 11th, 13th and 15th holes which took his day's round to two-over.

 

 

He said, “I can’t wait to come back here again next time. I will draw on the experiences that I got this week. Felt a little pressure but only on the second day, I was outside the cutline and I really wanted to play the weekend because it was my birthday yesterday. I didn’t want to be sad on my birthday.”

 

 Shubhankar added, “I was happy that I finished very well to make the cut. The last two rounds were pretty enjoyable as well. This is the best birthday present that I have ever got for myself. The weather was very nice this week. I think it’s one of the best weather at The Open that a lot of people are telling me. Even the last two weeks at the Irish Open and the Scottish Open, the weather was great.”

 

 

Tiger Woods rues missed opportunity

 

 

 

 

Tiger Woods says not being able to convert a one-shot lead at the Open Championship into a shock 15th major title is "going to sting". The American led at seven under before a double bogey on 11 stalled his bid as Francesco Molinari went on to win.

 

Woods, 42, has not won a major since the 2008 US Open, with his career interrupted by personal problems and a serious back injury in recent years. "I had a great opportunity," said Woods, who shot 71 to tie for sixth.

 

 

INTERESTING SNIPPETS

• Rory McIlroy said, "For a while, I thought Tiger was going to win. My mindset was to go and spoil the party. I have no regrets. I played the way I wanted to play this week. It gives me a lot of encouragement going into the final major of the year.”
• Molinari wins his first major championship title, and second PGA TOUR title in his 123rd start at 35 years, 8 months 14 days. The Open was his sixth European Tour victory. Claimed first PGA TOUR title earlier this month at Quicken Loans National. Won fifth European Tour title in May at BMW PGA Championship.
• Becomes first Italian to win The Open.
• With 600 points, he moves from No. 27 to No. 7 in the FedExCup.

 

Day 1:  Sharma upbeat after battling 73; a ‘Car-nasty’ start for Lahiri as Kisner leads at the Open 

Day 2: Birthday boy Shubhankar Sharma becomes youngest Indian to make a cut in a Major

Day 3: Shubhankar celebrates 22nd birthday with a gritty 71 as Spieth co-leads the Open