![Francesco Molinari](https://web.archive.org/web/20101110151212im_/http://www.blogcdn.com/golf.fanhouse.com/media/2010/11/110710-molinari-story.jpg)
To the very end, golf's 2010 season keeps throwing curve balls.
The four top ranked players in the world -- England's newly anointed No. 1 Lee Westwood and closest challengers Tiger Woods, Martin Kaymer and Phil Mickelson -- all came to the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions in Shanghai, China, only to see Italy's Francesco Molinari steal the show.
Leading wire-to- wire, Molinari finished with a 5-under 67 at Sheshan International for his first win this season, and only the second of his career. He became the first Italian to claim a World Golf Championships title, posting 19 under and one shot in front of Westwood.
"It wasn't easy," Molinari, who turns 28 on Monday, said. "I'm just really proud of the way I played and the way I handled myself. Lee is No. 1 in the world, and he was playing some fantastic golf. It was a great finish at the end."
Molinari had not won since the Italian Open four years ago. He becomes the third Italian to win on the European Tour this year, joining older brother Edoardo Molinari and countryman and Matteo Manassero.
"It makes me work a little harder," Molinari said. "Because I wanted to contribute to this golden moment of Italian golf."
And while the victory earned $1.2 million and moved Molinari to No. 14 in the world ranking -- three spots in front of his brother -- the week served most as a reflection of Westwood's climb this season to the No. 1 ranking.
Westwood, 37, has yet to win a career-first major, although since 2008 has recorded five top-three finishes, including runners-up at this year's Masters and British Open. His only victory of the year (U.S. and Europe) came in Memphis, and because of injuries he has competed in only two stroke-play events in the last three months.
Yet, on the strength of another non-winning performance, his grip on No. 1 is stronger now than it was last week when he ended Woods' streak of 281 consecutive weeks on top.
It's not like he didn't play well. Westwood made only two bogeys for the week, none over the weekend. His 18-under finish was nine shots clear of the third-place tie between Luke Donald and Richie Ramsay.
But the bottom line is the world's No. 1 ranked player has yet to win a major and has raised only one trophy in over a year.
![](https://web.archive.org/web/20101110151212im_/http://www.blogcdn.com/golf.fanhouse.com/media/2010/11/golf-fanhouse-twitter.jpg)
It was also typical of the year when golf's best never got around to playing like it.
Woods closed with a 68 and tied for sixth, 13 shots behind. It was only his third top 10 of the year, and his best finish since a tie for fourth at the U.S. Open. For the first time in his career, Woods failed to win on the PGA Tour, ending a streak of 14 years.
"That's just the way it goes," Woods said. "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."
Kaymer, the German with five worldwide wins including the PGA, played the year better than anyone in the world and could have made it official with a victory, but shot 71 and tied for 30th. Mickelson, with a chance to be No. 1 since his early season Masters win, shot 73 and tied for 41st.
So the season inches toward a finish.
With no logic in sight.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Congratulation Tiger, It wont be long before your back on top
tiger won the tourney?..no wait...francesco molinari won the tourney....congratulations,francesco,for winning the tourney,and congratulations to lee westwood and his impressive finish to maintain his number one ranking....
Just congratulating a FELLOW AMERICAN on his fine finish in a INTERNATIONAL PLAYERS event Go Tiger, Go USA
I can understand the Italians being excited about one of their countrymen winning the tournament as I am about an American Tiger Woods placing in the top 10
Oh, WHERE were the top yanks, also rans just like in the Ryder Cup, if you cannot say something nice then shut up, Lee's is top dog because he is the most consistant of top golfers.
If it had been one of your own, best thing since sliced bread, get over it.
I didn't like looking at this tourny. They almost never showed the American players. If it wasn't for the americans you wouldn't see euro golf on TV. They're trying to force feed Westwood to us. It won't work, he's like looking at paint dry.
Maybe now he understands.
American, European, what's the difference, it's all good. Great players are fun to watch no matter were they are from. It's great that the Europeans have many more tallented players now days it makes things way more interesting.
You've got to be kidding. I think you have lost your mind. Probably never had one to begin with. Who wants to see a bunch of stuffy players missing putts. Euro players are boring. So are some of the Americans. Call me spoiled by Tiger if you want, i don't care. It is what it is. If he's not playing, you fall asleep trying to watch. Theyal're just not interesting to watch. Also, I play a lot of golf if you must know.
Slim, those stuffy players you are speaking about probably not one of them three putted nine times in this years British Open like Tiger Woods did. I love to watch golf with my children and we don't like the foul mouth of a particular player. We do like diversity and don't limit ourselves to such slim pickins as you do.