Molinari magic at Gleneagles

Italy's Edoardo Molinari birdied his final three holes to win the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles by a single stroke from Brett Rumford.

The Italian, who is vying to secure one of the three wildcards for the European Ryder Cup team, threw down the gauntlet to captain Colin Montgomerie with a quite brilliant finish to push his case for inclusion.

Standing on the 16th tee the 29-year-old from Turin found himself two behind Rumford who had already set the clubhouse target at nine-under-par following a closing 70.

But after making a birdie four at 16, Molinari then produced a quite wonderful breaking 35-foot putt for a two at the par-three 17th and came up with a nerveless up and down from 30 yards at the 18th for another birdie four to clinch his second European Tour win of the season - his first coming at Loch Lomond last month.

Molinari's younger brother Francesco carded a scruffy final round of 75, which included seven bogeys, to finish in a tie for third at seven-under alongside Jamie Donaldson (69) and Miguel Angel Jimenez (72).

That result ensured the Spaniard clinched his place on Europe's Ryder Cup side, as did Swede Peter Hanson after Simon Dyson failed to win.

Having started in positive fashion with a birdie at the second, Dyson saw his chances go up in smoke with a run of six bogeys in 12 holes, but rallied with three late birdies to end up on his own in sixth at six-under.

When quizzed whether he thought he had done enough to persuade Montgomerie to pick him by winning, Molinari told Sky Sports: "I still don't know, but I like my chances now.

"Hopefully those three birdies have put me in a good position.

Good enough

"After 13 holes I started thinking I have to win to get the pick and now I have I don't know what else I have to do to show Monty I am good enough."

Irish caddie Colin Byrne told him on the 16th that there were three more birdie chances and "let's make it happen".

Jimenez, who made a late decision to play because he was in danger of being knocked out, could have gone to his nephew's wedding as it turned out.

But the 46-year-old, who will win his fourth cap, stated after a level par 72 that included missing a tap-in bogey putt on the 17th: "It means a lot. It's very important to me and I'm glad to be part of the team again."

Hanson, who won last week's Czech Open to leap from 15th on the points table, also shot 72 and said: "It feels great.

"I was very tired coming here and I've been battling trying not to think about making the team. I think I'm going to celebrate tonight - and tomorrow as well."