Monday 2 July 2018 00:17, UK
Francesco Molinari cruised to a maiden PGA Tour title with a dominant eight-stroke victory at the Quicken Loans National.
The world No 17 produced a world-class display and played a five-hole stretch in six under on his way to a bogey-free 62 at TPC Potomac, ending the week on a tournament record-low of 21 under and becoming the first Italian winner on the PGA Tour since 1947.
Ryan Armour posted a two-under 68 to claim outright second ahead of Sung Kang, with Tiger Woods 10 strokes back in a share of fourth following a final-round 66.
Beginning the final round tied for the lead, Molinari was immediately handed the outright advantage when Ancer failed to get up-and-down from a greenside bunker to save par at the first.
Molinari converted a 12-foot birdie at the sixth and holed from 15 feet to save par at the ninth and reach the turn three ahead, before pulling clear with a stunning run along the back nine.
The Italian drained a 50-foot eagle at the 10th and fired his approach at the next to tap-in range, with a seven-foot gain at the 12th followed by another from 12 feet at the 13th to extend his cushion.
Molinari continued his birdie run at the 14th to briefly move nine ahead and threaten a sub-60 round, only to end his remarkable scoring run by splashing out of the rough at the next to save par.
With victory all-but assured, Molinari missed a 12-foot birdie look at the 16th and posted a two-putt par at the next before closing his winning round by taking two attempts from eight feet for a closing par.
Woods posted successive birdies from over 20 feet over his front nine to get within four of the lead, with a tied-fourth finish being his second-best on the PGA Tour this season.
The leading four players in the top 12 and not already exempt secured qualification for The Open through the Open Qualifying series, with Armour, Kang, Ancer and Bronson Burgoon booking their spots for Carnoustie.
