Ireland edged out in World Cup final
Sunday, 29 November 2009 21:05
Italy won the Omega Mission Hills World Cup by one shot from Ireland and Sweden today as brothers Francesco and Edoardo Molinari carded a four-under-par 68 in today's final-round foursomes.
Elder brother Francesco crucially holed three consecutive birdie putts on the back nine before European Tour Challenge Tour number one Edoardo tapped home at the last to follow up last week's win in Japan as Italy won a first World Cup at 29-under-par.
Irish duo Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell had stretched their overnight lead to three shots on the front nine, but failed to pick up a shot on the way home and a final-round two under 70 was not enough to secure the wire-to-wire victory.
Sweden produced a gallant attempt to defend their title as world number seven Henrik Stenson and Robert Karlsson, who was beaten in a play-off by Edoardo last week in Japan, carded a final round three-under-par 69.
England finished fourth at 26-under-par as an impressive bogey-free eight under 64 came just too late for Ian Poulter and Ross Fisher.
Hiroyuki Fujita and Ryuji Imada claimed fifth for Japan, a further four shots back, after a 69, with Robert Allenby and Stuart Appleby earning sixth for Australia.
South Africa, Wales, YE Yang's Korea, Martin Kaymer's Germany and USA, who shot a brilliant bogey-free final round 10-under-par 62, rounded out the top 10 at 20-under-par.
Spain ended a disastrous week with a two over 74 as world number eight Sergio Garcia and Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano finished at just seven-under-par overall with Scotland propping up the table a further three shots adrift.
- Reaction: Rory McIlroy looks back on his first appearance at the World Cup of Golf.
- Nostalgia: Journalist Dermot Gilleece looks back on the success of Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley in the World Cup of Golf in 1997.
- Watch report: Colm Murray reports on Ireland's second placed finish at the World Cup of Golf.
