Molinari goes wire to wire to win in China

Lee Westwood played well enough to win, he played like the world #1 that he is.. He only made 2 bogey's all week, finished 9 shots clear of his nearest rival, is 18 shots under par, made clutch par saving putts and was sublime from tee to green.. Unfortunately for him, his Ryder Cup teammate Francesco Molinari did all of the above as well, just 1 shot better !! They matched each other shot for shot over the last 3 rounds, the difference was 65 to 66 in round 1 !!!

Molinari never really faltered badly all week, he missed two tiddlers this morning which has been a weakness for him in the past, but putted flawlessly all week and as I said yesterday, and Westwood confirmed it after the round, when he did miss the green he chipped beautifully.

Here are some Molinari facts from the post round notes..

• His first European Tour victory since the 2006 Italian Open – a gap of four and a half years
• Played in 125 European Tour events between victories and in that time has been second six times

• The third WGC victory won by a European Tour Member in 2010; They are: Ian Poulter (WGC – Accenture Match Play), Ernie Els (WGC – CA Championship) and Francesco Molinari (WGC – HSBC Champions).

• Moves into the top 15 of the Official World Golf Ranking; his highest career position
.
• Fourth Italian victory of the 2010 European Tour season, following his brother Edoardo Molinari (The Barclays Scottish Open and Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles) and Matteo Manassero (CASTELLÓ MASTERS Costa Azahar). This represents the most Italian wins in a single European Tour season.

• The Molinari brothers now join Seve and Maunel Ballesteros, as the only brothers to win in the same European Tour season.

• Wins for the second time in China having partnered his brother, Edoardo, in Italy’s first win in the Omega Mission Hills World Cup last year.

• Moves through €6 million in European Tour Official Career Earnings with his prize of €860,153.


• Gains a three year European Tour exemption.
 
* He turns 28 tomorrow
 
Other notes
 
Tiger will be pleased to finish with a -4 68 good for a T6. He's off to Australia to defend his title at the Aussie Masters next week.. Remember he won the gold jacket there last year while he had his mother with him staying at one hotel and as we found out later, his girlfriend in another !!
 
Tiger finishes the 2010 PGA tour season without a win, the first time that has happened in his career of 14 years. ( Jack and Arnie went 17 ).
 
Mickelson ended up T41 along with the other Molinari, Edoardo...
 
Martin Kaymer T30 and his pursuer for the Race to Dubai, Graeme McDowell was T34..
 
Rory McIlroy closed with a -5 67 to grab a T5 after being a non factor all week..
 
While Jaco Van Zyl ended up T13 at 282 worth 64,512 euros a good week for the little South African from the Sunshine Tour, consider this.. That little 2 footer that he missed on Friday cost him  exactly 39,935 euros which is what 281 and a T6 ( 104,447 euros) received plus an automatic invitation back here next year !!
 
Shijecki Maruyama shot 76 then WD... He still won 17,920 for showing up !!
 
Leaderboard
 

1 MOLINARI Francesco ITA -1 65 70 67 67 269 € 860,153

2 WESTWOOD Lee ENG -18 66 70 67 67 270 € 483,836

3 DONALD Luke ENG -9 68 70 68 73 279 € 267,006

3 RAMSAY Richie SCO -9 69 68 71 71 279 € 267,006

5 MCILROY Rory NIR -8 71 71 71 67 280 € 179,199

6 ANDERSSON HED Fredrik SWE -7 69 71 71 70 281 € 104,447

6 CASEY Paul ENG -7 73 71 67 70 281 € 104,447

6 ELS Ernie RSA -7 72 65 71 73 281 € 104,447

6 GOOSEN Retief RSA -7 70 74 69 68 281 € 104,447

6 GREEN Richard AUS -7 72 68 73 68 281 € 104,447

6 HANSON Peter SWE -7 73 69 70 69 281 € 104,447

6 WOODS Tiger USA -7 68 72 73 68 281 € 104,447

13 POULTER Ian ENG -6 70 70 73 69 282 € 64,512

13 STENSON Henrik SWE -6 67 74 72 69 282 € 64,512

13 VAN ZYL Jaco RSA -6 71 66 72 73 282 € 64,512

Champions Tour

The slogan for these seniors should be " these guys are still good !!"

Micheal Allen blistered the tough Harding course yesterday with a -10, 61 but still only has a 1 shot lead over John Cook (67)..

11 players are within 8 of the lead including Bernhard Langer who is tied for 4th and looks set to win the $1m bonus for the Charles Schwab Cup race.

LEADERBOARD

1 Michael Allen  -14 69 69 61 -- 199

2 1 John Cook -13 64 69 67 -- 200
3 T7 David Frost -12 68 68 65 -- 201
T4 T7 Bernhard Langer  -10 67 69 67 -- 203
T4 T4 Russ Cochran -10 67 68 68 -- 203
T4 T2 Tom Lehman -10 66 68 69 -- 203
T7 Tom Pernice, Jr. -9 65 71 68 -- 204
T8 Fred Funk -8 65 70 70 -- 205
10 T2 Tom Kite -7 67 67 72 -- 206
T11 T16 Nick Price -6 70 70 67 -- 207
T11 T7 Corey Pavin  -6 68 68 71 -- 207
T13 Fred Couples -5 69 69 70 -- 208

Bryan Angus