Molinari brothers hold off Sweden and Ireland to win World Cup at Mission Hills

Forza Italia. First the 16-year-old Matteo Manassero became the youngest man to win the Amateur Championship and now the Molinari brothers have won the World Cup at Mission Hills in China by a shot from defending champions Sweden and Ireland.




Winners: Edoardo Molinari of Italy celebrates making the winning putt on the 18th green with his brother and playing partner Francesco Molinar Photo: GETTY IMAGES
The English pair of Ross Fisher and Ian Poulter moved up to finish fourth after rounds of 63 and 64 at the weekend.

The younger brother, Francesco, was the man who took Italy home. He holed long birdie putts across the 12th and 13th greens and then played a brilliant bunker shot at the last to close out Ireland and Sweden.


Sport on television He said: "It's a big story, for a few days everybody will notice golf in Italy as well." Well as Italy played, the Irish duo of Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell will feel that they blew it. Having led all the way, they played their final 11 holes in one over par. Italy played the same stretch, with its three par-fives, in four under par.

Ireland's finish again raised questions about McIlroy's ability to close out tournaments down the stretch. For all the young man's ball-striking genius, he has not won as much as you would expect either as an amateur or a pro. Yesterday he hooked his driver, pushed his short irons and missed a short putt.

McIlroy said: "We both played pretty average today to be honest."

The 20 year-old then spoke of future plans to make the World Cup a two yearly event in order to double the prize money and pull in the best players. McIlroy said: "Hopefully it can get back to the way it was a few decades ago."

Source:telegraph.co.uk/