Molinari Makes History at Quicken Loans National

Francesco Molinari shot an eight under round of 62 on Sunday to win the Quicken Loans National. This is his first victory in America and he became the first Italian born golfer to win on the PGA TOUR since Toney Penna in 1947.

Francesco Molinari Highlights | Round 4 | Quicken Loans 2018

SUBSCRIBE to PGA TOUR now: http://pgat.us/vBxcZSh In the final round of the 2018 Quicken Loans National, Francesco Molinari keeps his composure to card an 8-under 62 to win his first PGA TOUR event of his career. The Quicken Loans National returns to TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm.

With this victory Molinari jumped from 123^rd to 42^nd in the FedExCup Standings. He was first in strokes gained in approach to the green, tee to green, greens in regulation and scrambling this week. He also finished T5 in fairways hit and 23^rd in putting.

Molinari called being a winner on the PGA TOUR “Amazing.” Surprisingly he called winning, “a lot easier than I thought.” Molinari called the beginning of his back nine “incredible” which he played the first five holes at six under par, including a 48-foot eagle putt that he buried on the 10^th hole.

Francesco Molinari of Italy celebrates with the trophy and Tiger…

Francesco Molinari of Italy celebrates with the trophy and Tiger Woods after winning the Quicken Loans National during the final round at TPC Potomac on July 1, 2018 in Potomac, Maryland. Molinari… Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images

“I think I made the right decision,” said Molinari when asked how he felt about playing the Quicken Loans instead of the French Open this week. He described being “a long way back” in the FedEx standings and thought he “deserves” to be further up. After recalling that he missed the Tour Championship by a shot last year he said that his “mission” for this year is to play East Lake and that today was “a great step forward.”

Tiger Woods finished T4 after a four under round on Sunday. “Overall it was a good solid day,” said Woods. He finished 12^th in strokes gained tee to green and T8 in greens in regulation. “I did some good work last week. I’m starting the ball on my lines again,” said Woods when asked about his putting this week.

Tiger Woods’ Highlights | Round 4 | Quicken Loans 2018

SUBSCRIBE to PGA TOUR now: http://pgat.us/vBxcZSh In the final round of the 2018 Quicken Loans National, Tiger Woods changed his putter and it improved his short game as he carded three birdies on his front nine. The Quicken Loans National returns to TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm.

Woods said he was hitting a lot of good putts that weren’t going in which he said was, “fine, as long as I’m hitting good putts.” He said he has been missing this feeling with his putter, “for the better part of two months.” Woods said that he, “finally turned it around” with his putting. The stats back him up, as he finished 10^th in strokes gained putting and made his season high of 125 feet of putts this week.

Tiger Woods reacts on the 18th green during the final round of the…

Tiger Woods reacts on the 18th green during the final round of the Quicken Loans National at TPC Potomac on July 1, 2018 in Potomac, Maryland. Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images

Despite a short birdie miss on 14, Woods said the new putter, “feels good.” He said that even his bad putts had the “go in look.” He continued to remark on the “swing” of this putter and how he likes to feel the “toe move” and how it “makes a big difference.”

He will be taking the following two weeks off as he prepares for the Open Championship at Carnoustie. Woods acknowledged the importance of driving the ball well at Carnoustie as he called it a “pretty narrow piece of property.”  He will have to improve off the tee in the coming weeks before the Open. He finished T64 in driving accuracy and only hit 9 of 14 fairways on Sunday.

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