Best putting round' lifts Molinari to victory
Italian golfer sinks 45-foot birdie at the par-four 18th hole to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational with an eight-under-par 64
Miami — Francesco Molinari clinched a two-stroke victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational when he stormed home with a closing eight-under-par 64 in Florida on Sunday. The British Open champion enjoyed his “best putting day” which he capped off by sinking a 45-foot birdie at the difficult par-four 18th at Bay Hill in Orlando. The usually low-key Italian raised his arm in the air to hail his final putt, the longest he has holed on the PGA Tour this year. Molinari posted a 12-under 276 total and, after a two-hour wait in the clubhouse, celebrated his third PGA Tour victory when none of the overnight frontrunners could match his total. Overnight leader Matthew Fitzpatrick shot 71 to claim second place on 10-under. Defending champion Rory McIlroy carded 72 for equal sixth, four strokes behind Molinari. “I thought there was an outside chance and just started making putts,” Molinari said about his mindset after he had teed off five strokes from the lead. “Probably have to say my best putt...
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