After breaking through for his first career major, Francesco Molinari now has a five-year exemption on the PGA Tour, a 10-year exemption in Europe and has solidified his standing as one of the best players in the world. But not too long ago, the 35-year-old Italian was apparently thinking about life after golf. Shortly after […]
Author Archives: ionutkrech
CARNOUSTIE, Scotland – Francesco Molinari was 12 years old when Costantino Rocca came within a playoff of becoming Italy’s first major champion at the 1995 Open at St. Andrews. He remembers being inspired by Rocca’s play and motivated by the notion that he could one day be the player who would bring home his country’s […]
CARNOUSTIE, Scotland – Sometimes a course just fits a player’s eye. They can’t really describe why, but more often than not it leads to solid finishes. Francesco Molinari’s relationship with Carnoustie isn’t like that. The Italian played his first major at Carnoustie, widely considered the toughest of all The Open venues, in 2007, and his […]
CARNOUSTIE, Scotland – Playing in a final group at a major for the first time, Xander Schauffele awkwardly splashed out of three pot bunkers, went out in 40 and still somehow had a chance to win at Carnoustie. Playing the 17th hole, tied with Francesco Molinari, Schauffele flared his approach shot into the right rough […]
CARNOUSTIE, Scotland – Justin Rose made the cut on the number at The Open and was out for an early Saturday morning stroll at Carnoustie when, all of a sudden, he started putting together one great shot after another. There was no pressure. No one had expected anything from someone so far off the lead. […]
CARNOUSTIE, Scotland – Contending in a major championship on what is largely considered the toughest major championship course can be hard enough, but as Jordan Spieth reached the 10th tee box, he was given another layer of anxiety. Spieth, who was playing with Xander Schauffele on Sunday at Carnoustie, was informed that his group had […]
CARNOUSTIE, Scotland – Jordan Spieth was the 54-hole co-leader of The Open. He was looking for his fourth career major and second consecutive claret jug. He also has been in the biggest victory drought of his career, extending back to last year at Royal Birkdale. Spieth shot 5-over 76 – his worst final round in […]
After narrowly missing out on a 15th major title at Carnoustie, Tiger Woods can take solace in the fact that he earned a return to Firestone Country Club by the thinnest of margins. Woods was ranked No. 71 in the world entering The Open, and the top 50 in the rankings on both July 23 […]
Brandel Chamblee will be trading in his analyst chair for a tee time this week in Scotland. One day after Chamblee’s work dissecting the 147th Open at Carnoustie ended, the 56-year-old made the short trip to Scotscraig Golf Club in an attempt to qualify for this week’s Senior Open. Chamblee had qualified at Scotscraig to […]
CARNOUSTIE, Scotland – Tiger Woods’ approach shot into the first hole on Sunday at The Open dropped within 15 feet of the hole and roars could be heard all the way to Dundee. Four holes later he rolled in his first birdie of the day and the roars echoed across Carnoustie, an unmistakable statement that […]