26 Sports Tuesday, July 24, 2018 Who needs Ferrari? Italy has Molinari; First Italian to win Molinari hails ‘hero’ Rocca after British Open triumph CARNOUSTIE: Francesco Molinari was only half jok- 15th to sixth in the world rankings and clinched his ing when he said his stunning British Open victory place in Europe’s team for the Ryder Cup in France in might make the headlines back home - as long Ferrari September, said. “If someone was expecting a charge, had not won the Grand Prix in Hockenheim. The 35- probably they weren’t expecting it from me, but it’s year-old became the first Italian to win a major when been the same the whole of my career. I don’t really his two-under-par round of 69 helped him eclipse the care too much about it. “I care about the people likes of Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth around me, the work that we put in. They know how on a nerve-jangling final day around Carnoustie. Only much we’ve all worked to get here.” 14 of the 79 players on breezy Sunday shot a sub-par In 2010 Molinari and his elder brother Edoardo round but he churned out par after par before birdies became the first brothers to compete together in the at the 14th and 18th earned him the Claret Jug. Asked Ryder Cup since 1963. Edoardo has since suffered whether his triumph would knock more traditional with wrist and hand injuries and slumped down the Italian passions off the sports pages, Molinari said: “It rankings before a return to form last year, when he depends. Ferrari won today? If they won, they’ll prob- won the Trophee Hassan II in Morocco. The new Open ably get the headlines.” champion said he hoped his victory would also be a As it was Ferrari did not win and with the Italian boost to his sibling with whom he won golf’s World soccer team missing the World Cup, golf might just Cup for Italy in 2009. “I would love for him to get have a chance to thrust itself out of the shadows. back to where he was a few years ago,” he said. “Golf “Obviously, to achieve something like this is on anoth- is a tough beast. He’s experienced some bad injuries er level,” he said. “Hopefully, there were a lot of young and two hand surgeries, but he’s come back. “I’m sure kids watching on TV today, like I was watching this will motivate him even more to achieve some great Costantino (Rocca) in ‘95 coming so close. Hopefully, things in the game of golf in the future.” they will get as inspired as I was at the time, watching him vie for the Claret Jug.” Rocca famously lost a ‘Hero’ Rocca hailed CARNOUSTIE: Italy’s Francesco Molinari poses for pictures with the Claret Jug - the trophy for the playoff to American John Daly having holed an incred- Molinari insisted Costantino Rocca would remain Champion golfer of the year after winning the 147th Open golf Championship at Carnoustie, Scotland on ible putt from the so-called “Valley of Sin” in front of his “hero and idol” after succeeding where his compa- July 22, 2018. — AFP the 18th green at St Andrews in 1995. triot failed narrowly by becoming the first Italian to It took an Italian 23 years to challenge again at the win the British Open. Despite the pressure of playing Open and this time Molinari prevailed, having man- alongside golf great Tiger Woods, who was himself in Molinari, now the first Italian to win any of golf’s four the Quicken Loans National. aged only three top-10 finishes in his 35 previous title contention, Molinari produced a brilliant final major championships, told Sky Sports on Monday. Molinari, a more outwardly reserved figure than majors. Despite having won two of his last five tourna- round of 69 to win the Open at the Carnoustie course “Costantino still is and will always be my hero and my Rocca, said he was determined to keep the Open ments in the build-up to Carnoustie, Molinari was in Scotland on Sunday. Remarkably, it was the 35- idol. “His text last (Sunday) night was probably one of champion’s Claret Jug trophy, arguably the most considered an outsider. He said the lack of spotlight year-old Molinari’s second consecutive round without the most special ones. He came so close to winning famous piece of silverware in golf, in his sights. “It on him helped - especially as he was playing along- the blemish of a bogey and saw him finish the Open on this that it’s for him as well. He told me congratulations wasn’t too wild, there was a lot of joy from everyone side a charging Woods on Sunday in front of galleries eight under par. and how pleased he was for me. “He knows how hard but a lot of tiredness as well after a long week,” he 10 deep in places. While others were losing their cool, Back in 1995 at St Andrews, another Scottish I’ve been working to get here so I think he felt the said of Sunday’s celebrations. “But it was great to Molinari simply buckled down and cranked out a win- course and the venue for this week’s Senior British same proudness that I felt yesterday,” added the in- have a few close friends and my wife having a few ning score. Open, Rocca holed a stunning 60-foot birdie on the form Molinari, who in May won the European PGA drinks and telling a few stories about the week,” “Clearly, in my group, the attention wasn’t really on 18th hole to force a play-off only for John Daly of the Championship title at England’s Wentworth course added Molinari, whose brother, Edoardo, is also a me, let’s put it that way,” Molinari, who rocketed from United States to win that year’s Open. “It feels weird,” and recently claimed his first title on the US tour at professional golfer.—Agencies cards as the packed gallery appeared to energize him. He ‘It stings,’ Woods was pumping his fist and even raised a two-fingered V for victory to the gallery at the fourth as he sank a longish birdie putt to move to three off the lead. He secured Sky chief slams Tour admits as Open another birdie on the par five seventh, holing an uphill putt — this time there was no fist pump just a determined look in his eyes as he strode off the green. Woods then found haters, calls race’s charge fades away himself in the lead in the middle of his round as the leaders shed shots all over the place but from that tantalizing high billing into doubt CARNOUSTIE: Tiger Woods at one moment looked like his game began to falter visiting the sand on three succes- completing an astonishing fairytale comeback when he led sive holes from the eighth to the tenth. the British Open in the final round on Sunday but ultimate- ly came up short, posting a level par 71 to finish five-under ‘Pretty significant hugs’ CARCASSONNE: Team Sky chief Dave Brailsford for the tournament. However, the 42-year-old 14-time However, his run of luck came to an abrupt end at the hit out at organizers yesterday for failing to stop major winner had his rivals rattled when he grabbed the 11th - as did his lead - finding the rough then hitting a “intimidating” abuse of his riders and staff as they lead thanks to two birdies on the front nine while they spectator before rolling behind a bush and resulting in a CARNOUSTIE: US golfer Tiger Woods watches his attempt to win the Tour de France. With Welshman were dropping shots. The dream, though, ended for Woods double bogey with him exiting the green grim-faced. iron shot from the 3rd tee during his final round Geraint Thomas in the yellow jersey and four-time on his return after a two-year hiatus to a major he has won Further trouble and another dropped shot was to follow at on day 4 of The 147th Open golf Championship at champion Chris Froome in second place at 1min three times when he double-bogeyed the 11th and then the next and it was with his head bowed deep in thought Carnoustie. — AFP 39sec, Sky are in an optimal position as they head dropped another shot on the following hole. he strode down the par-three 13th where he managed to into the Pyrenees for three consecutive stages start- Woods, who was watched by his children and got ador- stem the haemorrhage with a par. He got one back on the ing today. ing hugs as he left the final green, admitted he was “a little par five-14th but Molinari also birdied to take him two told them I tried, and I said, “Hopefully you’re proud of But the British outfit’s bid to win the French race ticked off with himself” but said his close friend and tennis shots ahead of the American. your pops for trying as hard as I did.”,” said Woods. “They for the sixth time in seven years is not sitting well superstar Serena Williams — who lost in the Wimbledon He vented his frustration when distracted by a shout gave me some — it’s pretty emotional because they gave with some fans. Amid a general feeling of suspicion singles final last weekend — would set him right.