Francesco Molinari didnB次元官网网址檛 get the loudest cheers for the best golf at British Open.

He was overlooked for so much of Sunday playing alongside Tiger Woods, who caused pure pandemonium at Carnoustie by taking the lead in the final round of a major for the first time in nine years.

Molinari settled for the best cheer of them all.

The last one.

Amid so much chaos B次元官网网址� seven players atop the leaderboard, six of them still tied on the back nine B次元官网网址� Molinari played a steady hand by going the entire weekend without a bogey and finishing with a 5-foot birdie putt that secured his place in history as ItalyB次元官网网址檚 first major champion.

B次元官网网址淐learly, in my group, the attention wasnB次元官网网址檛 really on me, letB次元官网网址檚 put it that way,B次元官网网址� Molinari said, the gleaming claret jug in front of him. B次元官网网址淚f someone was expecting a charge, they probably werenB次元官网网址檛 expecting it from me. But itB次元官网网址檚 been the same the whole of my career.B次元官网网址�

His charge was a 2-under 69 in the strongest wind of the week, the only player from the last four groups to break par.

Woods lost the lead with one bad swing that would have been even farther left of the 11th green had it not crashed into the fans, leading to double bogey. He followed that with a bogey and never caught up. He had to settle for a 71.

Jordan Spieth, tied for the lead in his bid to go back-to-back in the British Open, failed to make a single birdie and shot 76, his highest score Sunday in a major.

Kevin Chappell made two double bogeys, the last one on No. 17 that derailed his hopes. Kevin Kisner made his double bogey early. Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose each made a run with eagles on the par-5 14th hole, McIlroy with a 50-foot putt , Rose with a second shot that bounced off the base of the pin. They ran out of holes.

Xander Schauffele, the last hope to keep alive the American streak of five straight majors, was one shot behind until he sent a long iron to the right of the 17th and failed to make a 15-foot putt for par.

Molinari clinched it with a driver that skirted the edge of a pot bunker, leaving him a lob wedge from 112 yards to 5 feet. He poured it in, raised his right fist and shook it lightly before slamming it for emphasis.

Then, he waited in the trailer to see if anyone could catch him. At one point, he went over to the practice green, but not to prepare for a playoff.

B次元官网网址淚 probably would have felt sick watching on TV,B次元官网网址� he said.

Molinari finished at 8-under 276, the lowest score in eight Opens at Carnoustie, the course where Jean Van de Velde threw away the British Open with a triple bogey on the last hole in 1999, where Padraig Harrington twice hit into Barry Burn on the last hole to make double bogey and still won.

B次元官网网址淛ust disbelief, to be honest,B次元官网网址� the 35-year-old said. B次元官网网址淭o go the weekend bogey-free, itB次元官网网址檚 unthinkable. Playing with Tiger was another challenge. But I felt really good this morning. I felt I was ready for the challenge.B次元官网网址�

Woods had every reason to believe he would cap a most improbable comeback from four back surgeries.

His red shirt blazing against the yellow grass of a dry Scottish summer, Woods hit driver into the wind on the par-4 fourth to set up birdie. Into the wind on the par-5 sixth, three deep bunkers to the right and out-of-bounds to the left, he got to the front of the green with a driver and a 3-wood for another birdie.

And just like the Woods of old, the players he was chasing started to collapse.

Spieth gambled with a shot to clear the burn on No. 6 and went into a gorse bush, making double bogey. Schauffele chopped up the next hole for double bogey.

Woods had the lead.

And then he lost it with two bad holes. Still in range, he couldnB次元官网网址檛 get close enough for a birdie when it mattered. It was the first time since the 2007 U.S. Open that he trailed going into the final round of a major, had the lead and didnB次元官网网址檛 win.

His anger over his mistakes was tempered by perspective, comparing it to Serena Williams losing in the finals at Wimbledon.

B次元官网网址淭he beginning of the year, if theyB次元官网网址檇 have said, B次元官网网址榊ouB次元官网网址檙e playing The Open Championship,B次元官网网址� I would have said IB次元官网网址檇 be very lucky to do that. Serena and I are good friends. IB次元官网网址檓 sure sheB次元官网网址檒l probably call me and talk to me about it because youB次元官网网址檝e got to put things in perspective. B次元官网网址� I know that itB次元官网网址檚 going to sting for a little bit here, but given where I was to where IB次元官网网址檓 at now, blessed.B次元官网网址�

It might sting even worse for Spieth. One day after a bogey-free round of 65 to share the lead, he had a birdie-free round at the worst time. His best chance was at the 14th, where he three-putted for par from about 40 feet.

B次元官网网址淲hen you put yourself in position enough times, it goes your way sometimes, it doesnB次元官网网址檛 go your way sometimes,B次元官网网址� Spieth said, who goes to the PGA Championship in three weeks for a chance at the career Grand Slam.

Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., the lone Canadian in the field, finished at 1 over in a tie for 35th.

The victory adds to MolinariB次元官网网址檚 best stretch of golf.

Now at a career-best No. 6 in the world, he has won three times and been runner-up twice in his last six tournaments. One of those was three weeks ago at the Quicken Loans National when he shot 62 in the final round and Woods, the tournament host, presented him the trophy.

This round wasnB次元官网网址檛 flashy, and neither is Molinari. He saved par with 8-foot putts on the 12th and 13th, two of the most pivotal putts all day.

But not the most memorable.

B次元官网网址淭hat putt on the last, IB次元官网网址檒l never forget,B次元官网网址� he said.

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press

More to come

The Canadian Press

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