Francesco Molinari finished off a final-round 64 and staked himself to the clubhouse lead Sunday at the Arnold Palmer Invitational when he poured in a 44-foot putt from a very familiar position on Bay Hill’s iconic 18th green.
Ahead by one in the final fairway, Molinari’s approach at the 72nd hole stayed well left of the back-right pin, leaving him a swinging left-to-right putt that golf fans have seen Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy roll in to cap off API victories.
On Sunday, it was Molinari staking his claim to a red cardigan.
FRANCESCO MOLINARI FROM 44 FEET... BANG 🐦pic.twitter.com/u1tXZkCHPm
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) March 10, 2019
You must play boldly to win.#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/7v40cw0DrJ
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 10, 2019
The putt put Molinari two clear of his nearest pursuer, 54-hole leader Matthew Fitzpatrick, who had seven holes left to play when the reigning champion golfer of the year walked off the course.