2010 WGC-HSBC Champions - Final round Highlights
Who was expecting Francesco Molinari to win the WGC-HSBC Champions 2010 in the presence of a battle between four big giants of golf for the world number one title?
The younger Molinari earned one stroke edge in the first round and kept it locked until the end of the round. The man who lost the singles to Tiger Woods in the Ryder Cup bypassed Woods and earned the prize money of $860,153. Within a gap of one month, Francesco overthrew his own brother, Edoardo Molinari, although Edoardo is better in terms of world rankings.
Francesco was given a close fight by the world number one, who wanted to secure his newest throne. Lee Westwood missed one stroke in the first round when he carded 66, while Francesco posted 65. That stroke nailed Westwood down by the end of the tournament. The Englishman, drafted an identical score as that of the leader, but could not cross him. He left the course as a runner-up with a cheque of € 483,836.
On the third place were two players, Luke Donald and Richie Ramsay. Both the veterans carded nine-under to take the spot. According to Ramsay, the achievement was enough for him to secure a spot in the Race to Dubai finale at the end of the month.
The 22-year-old Rory McIlroy seized the fifth place of the leader board by posting 67 in the final round. The European Ryder Cup player managed a consistent score of 71 in the first three rounds, but gave a better performance in the final moments.
Tiger Woods, Ernie Els and Paul Casey shared the sixth spot by matching scores at seven-under-par. Woods failed to reclaim his lost title as world number one to Lee Westwood. He started the tournament with a 68, but failed to keep up with the requirements of the course, stumbled to 72 in the second and 73 in the third. The legend tried to reconcile with the lost points in the final round, but only managed to touch 68. For the very first time in his career, Tiger Woods ended the season without a victory.
Commenting on his loss Tiger Woods said, “That’s just the way it goes. It’s not like I didn't try. It just didn't happen this year. But I'm pleased with the progress I've made of late. Things are building and heading in the right direction, which is good."
Noh Seung-yul, Padraig Harrington and Ross Fisher followed behind in a group of five. The group wrapped the tournament with a score of five-under-par and prize money of € 55,337. The pride of Korea and the leader of the Order of Merit Asia Tour, Noh Seung-yul, failed to fulfil his bid at victory. By losing the title, he has lost the card to the PGA tour 2011.
Rickie Fowler gave a terrible performance throughout the tournament. He composed stats of 71-74-72-68 and took a share in the 25th place. The reason behind his faltering game has been apprehended as fatigue by the experts. The 21-year-old American has been on his toes since the Ryder Cup and has not taken a break, which has ultimately shown negative side effects.
Martin Kaymer, who lost the PGA Grand Slam and chance to win the number one title once again faltered. The German carded 71 in the final round to hide in a group at the 30th spot of the leader board.
On the other hand, Ryo Ishikawa, Phil Mickelson, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Edoardo Molinari slipped to the 41st place by carding one-under-par.
HSBC Champions ended on Sunday at Sheshan International Golf Club to declare Francesco Molinari as the new winner. The Italian held the lead tightly locked in his bag throughout the tournament and shoved rest of the titans to the bottom of the leader board.
Tags: