AFP, United Kingdom :
Francesco Molinari insisted Costantino Rocca would remain his “hero and idol” after succeeding where his compatriot failed narrowly by becoming the first Italian to win the British Open.
Despite the pressure of playing alongside golf great Tiger Woods, who was himself in title contention, Molinari produced a brilliant final round of 69 to win the Open at the Carnoustie course in Scotland on Sunday.
Remarkably, it was the 35-year-old Molinari’s second consecutive round without the blemish of a bogey and saw him finish the Open on eight under par.
Back in 1995 at St Andrews, another Scottish course and the venue for this week’s Senior British Open, Rocca holed a stunning 60-foot birdie on the 18th hole to force a play-off only for John Daly of the United States to win that year’s Open.
“It feels weird,” Molinari, now the first Italian to win any of golf’s four major championships, told Sky Sports on Monday. “Costantino still is and will always be my hero and my idol.
“His text last (Sunday) night was probably one of the most special ones. He came so close to winning this that it’s for him as well. He told me congratulations and how pleased he was for me.
