Molinari picked up a birdie on the 14th to put himself top of the leaderboard - which at one point was crowded with six players who couldn’t be separated. However, a brilliant and nerveless 18th - a hole that has been the undoing of so many at Carnoustie over the years - sealed his victory, his first birdie there this week. He went to the putting green to prepare for the play-off, but when Xander Schauffele, his nearest rival, dropped a shot at the 17th, meaning he needed an eagle, at last, it was all over.
"I could not watch Xander play the last two holes, so I went to the putting green. I would have been sick," added Molinari, "Tiger was great. There are a lot more people if you are grouped with him than if you are playing with some of the other guys. I have done it before, so I knew what was coming.
Justin Rose, who needed a birdie at the 18th on Friday to make the cut, finished in a tie for second with Rory McIlroy, whose charge ignited, flickered and ultimately faded. Americans Kevin Kisner and Schauffele joined them two shots back of Molinari.
Then came Woods and England’s Eddie Pepperell, who posted the best round of the day with a 67. Scotland’s Sam Locke won the Silver Medal for leading amateur.
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