Winner: Francesco Molinari
Around the wider world of golf: David Toms got his first Champions Tour major at the US Senior Open; Sung Hyun Park got her second LPGA major at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship; Muni He won the Prasco Charity Championship on the Symetra Tour; Anders Albertson won the Lincoln Land Championship on the Web.com Tour; Alex Noren won the HNA Open de France on the ET; Chan Kim defended his title at the Shigeo Nagashima Invitational SEGA SAMMY Cup on the Japan Golf Tour; and Jazz Janewattananond won the Queen's Cup on the Asian Tour. [UPDATE: I forgot to add Leonie Harm's win at the Ladies' British Amateur. Can't forget that! ]
If you were unusual with Francesco Molinari earlier than this beyond week... Well, you better get real acquainted, actual speedy.
I remember being very impressed with Francesco the first time I saw him play, which was back in November 2010. In fact, I was so impressed that I mentioned him in three consecutive posts -- one with a Limerick Summary for his second individual European Tour win at the 2010 WGC-HSBC Champions, a "Player to Watch" mention in a Ruthless Golf World Rankings post, and a look at his golf swing in a post called Francesco is Italian for "I Piped It Again." He showed great shotmaking prowess even then.
Francesco's profession has been particularly hit-or-leave out over the years even though. Interestingly enough, he has tended to win ET events each to four years -- 2006, 2010, 2012, 2016, and 2018. (He additionally had non-ET wins in 2009.) But 2018 has been one-of-a-kind, as he has two "big match wins" within a month of each other -- the BMW PGA, that's the ET's equivalent of THE PLAYERS, and now the Quicken Loans National, his first PGA Tour win. And both had been dominant wins -- he chased down Rory at the BMW and he received with the aid of eight strokes (and set some tournament scoring information alongside the manner) on the Quicken Loans.
To what does he owe this surprising improvement in his play? There are things. First, he has greatly stepped forward his strength and versatility, resulting in a far smoother and greater powerful swing. Coupled with his already marvelous shotmaking capability, that has lifted his sport a few notches.
But he is continually been a shotmaker. It's his newfound achievement with the putter that has made the biggest distinction. He's continually had lots of birdie opportunities, but now he is taking gain of them -- and, as a result, of the relaxation of the sector. Poor unlucky fellows!
Francesco gained loads this week. He's going to transport up within the world ratings; he pretty plenty locked up a couple of weeks within the FedExCup Playoffs, which he stated was the primary motive he played in the Quicken Loans instead of the French Open (that is held on the venue for this 12 months's Ryder Cup); and he quite tons locked up a spot on stated Ryder Cup team with his play. But we all know what he REALLY cared approximately... So here's your Limerick Summary, champ.
If Francesco?S career has seemed static,
It?S because his quick recreation?S been erratic.
Now he?S placing lights-out?
And he?S left us no doubt
That his Ryder Cup team is ecstatic! The photo came from this page at pgatour.com.
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