By John Hopkins at Global Golf Post

Francesco Molinari’s BMW PGA Championship victory was a reminder of just how good a player he has become. He has sometimes felt that he lacked a killer instinct. He certainly didn’t show that even though there were a few nervous moments on the 72hole.

Molinari’s third shot rolled off the green and stopped on a bank only a few feet above gurgling stream. He then hit his chip to only a few feet above gurgling stream. He then hit his chip to 6 or 7 feet, which meant that if Rory McIlroy, who had reached the green with his second, were to hole his 20-foot putt for an eagle, Molinari would have to hole his tricky putt for a par 5 to avoid facing a playoff against the Northern Irishman.

McIlroy’s putt ended agonizingly short, surprisingly, and then Molinari firmly knocked in his putt for victory by two strokes. It was the 35-year-old Italian’s fifth European Tour triumph in his 310appearance.

Molinari played his last 44 holes without a bogey. “Fair play to Francesco, he played great at the weekend,” McIlroy said. “He deserved his win.”

Molinari, McIlroy and Ross Fisher played together in Sunday’s last threesome as the European Tour hastened to get the tournament finished earlier because of predicted bad weather. The weather didn’t materialize and nor did the charge by McIlroy that Molinari – and everybody else come to that – was expecting.

“Rory is a great guy but I didn’t feel intimidated at all,” Molinari said. “I’m old enough now and I have played in tougher circumstances even than today. Playing against Tiger (Woods) in the Ryder Cup, for instance.

“When I’m playing well I think I do everything well. I don’t want to sound too arrogant but I think I showed today that I can do pretty much everything as good as the top guys in the world.”

Alex Norén, the defending champion, shared third place at 14-under par with Denmark’s Lucas Bjerregaard, who shot 65 on Sunday, jointly the lowest score of the day.

Republished with permission from Global Golf Post.