Francesco Molinari wins Open de España

Italy's Francesco Molinari fired a superb final round of 65 to win the Reale Seguros Open de España by three shots from Alejandro Cañizares, Soren Kjeldsen and Pablo Larrazabal.

Francesco Molinari wins Open de Espana (Getty Images)
Fergus Bisset
By
published

Italy's Francesco Molinari fired a superb final round of 65 to win the Reale Seguros Open de España by three shots from Alejandro Cañizares, Soren Kjeldsen and Pablo Larrazabal.

Molinari began the final round four shots off the pace, but with seven birdies in his first 14 holes, the Italian took control of the tournament. Finishing with four steady pars, it was an advantage he didn't relinquish. This was Molinari's first victory since the WGC-HSBC Champions event in Shanghai nearly 18 months ago and it could move him back into the top-30 on the Official World Golf Ranking.

"I knew I was playing well. I just needed some putts to drop," he said. "I was also hoping the other guys would not go too far under par and everything worked out perfectly."

Simon Dyson began the final round at the top of the leaderboard and he extended his advantage with birdies at his first two holes. But things went awry for the Englishman from that point onwards. He eventually finished with a 76 to end the week in a disappointing tie for 12th.

Playing with Dyson, Pablo Larrazabal fought back well from a poor start to claim a tie for second with countryman Alejandro Cañizares and Denmark's Soren Kjeldsen. The Spaniard was clearly disappointed not to secure a home victory.

"I concentrated so hard today and tried to focus but I just couldn't get the ball as close as I wanted to," said Larrazabal. "Francesco played so good and I just couldn't match him."

Reale Seguros Open de España Real Club de Golf de Sevilla 3-6 May, purse €2,000,000, par 72

1   Francesco Molinari (Ita) 70   71   74   65   280   €333,330 T2   Alejandro Cañizares (Esp) 74   72   68   69   283   €149,140 T2   Soren Kjeldsen (Den)   71   70   71   71   283   €149,140 T2   Pablo Larrazabal (Esp)   71   72   69   71   283   €149,140 T5   Jorge Campillo (Esp)   68   72   73   72   285   €77,400 T5   Thorbjorn Olesen (Den)   73   72   70   70   285   €77,400 T7   Markus Brier (Aut)   74   73   72   67   286   €46,320 T7   Nicolas Colsaerts (Bel)   72   72   71   71   286   €46,320 T7   Matteo Manassero (Ita)   70   70   76   70   286   €46,320 T7   Gareth Maybin (NIR)   73   75   71   67   286   €46,320 T7   Graeme Storm (Eng)   70   71   74   71   286   €46,320

Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage

Where next? PGA Tour - Rickie Fowler wins Wells Fargo Championship

Fergus Bisset
Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He has also worked with Golf Monthly to produce a podcast series. Called 18 Majors: The Golf History Show it offers new and in-depth perspectives on some of the most important moments in golf's long history. You can find all the details about it here.

He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?

Latest