Golf: A captivating Open for ages

THE British Open at Carnoustie Golf Links in Augus, Scotland, did not fail to deliver when he added to his legacy the oldest, most famous and best golf tournament in the world .

and the last day of Sunday, there would have been no better illustration of why this event comfortably ranks among the best parts of all sports.

And as if to reinforce the point, the stories that emerged from an 1850 establishment along the northeastern coast of the UK came thick and fast, and from the very beginning to the end.

The triumph of Francesco Molinari will always be mentioned first when the 147th Open is spoken. The Italian was simply the best when it mattered the most. He played with a burning desire, hidden inside, and when he birdied Carnoustie by-5 14th he was well and truly on the way to writing his own chapter in the history of golf .

His birdie in 18th place just a little more distance between him and Justin Rose, Rory McIlroy, Kevin Kisner and Alex Schauffele come in second, a few strokes back.

Molinari, who went on He had rounds of 70, 72, 65 and 69. These last two rounds made the difference.

Eddie Pepperel, Kevin Chappell, and Tiger Woods were the following ranking, tied for the sixth time in more, dating back to 279. Woods' Sunday Nine was something else and allowed the world's golf fraternity's Sit down and murmur about what was going on

He was right there – co-leader of the Open at the turn and with a chance and all he had to win a 15th major championship title for quite some time now.

The Open is off to a start loaded with mixed fortunes for the best players in the world.

Kisner shot a five-under 66 to take a lead. The Englishman Tommy Fleetwood, who entered the Open with a lot of confidence considering his excellent result at the US Open and was one of those with a decent chance of winning it. , was tied at the halfway point. He had a second day 65 for a total of 137

The young American Schauffele joined him in the hunt after one of his own 66.

Defending champion Jordan Spieth carded a 67 and concealed three shots as 2015 champion Zack Johnson sank in the lead

At the end of the day, there was a load of players ranked at the exit.

Dustin Johnson was in the vanguard of those who did not make the cup at Carnoustie. The world number one could not even do parity in the first two days, shooting 76 and 72. But he was by no means the only victim of big name.

Also eliminated by the cup were world number two Justin Thomas, Sergio Garcia, Hideki Matsuyama and Bubba Watson – all in the world's top 20. Rose scratched the mark. He had three more points and recovered his weekend with a birdie at the 36th hole

Things rose a little more in the third round while Rose made a huge jump in the rankings with the best lap of the day . -par 64.

There were three six under 65, Molinari and Spieth among them. Both were without bogey and with a clustered rank there was no doubt Sunday was the day to crown it all.

There were also three 66s on Saturday – Woods in and showing the kind of shape that made it big. The way he started the last round put an end to all the doubts that some had about winning again.

He silenced his critics with a solid two-sou front that propelled him into one part of the head.

There was a buzz about how he played. It was like the days of yore.

Woods was still in after a 10th par-par hole. However, his play went on during the next two holes and eliminated him from the race.

He had a double bogey on the 11th and a bogey at the 12th hole, while he slipped the order and could not regain his momentum.

He birdied on the 14th and played out the rest of the nine back with pars, for a five-under finish.

Spieth also collapsed rather dramatically. He did not make a birdie in the last round and his putter dropped him big time. But despite this, one has the impression that the 24-year-old with three Majors will be there for a day.

He has not played very well on the US PGA Tour this season – not by his high standards. So, for it to be running on Sunday, there was something that he would probably have taken eyes shut before the start of the week.

Rose and McIlroy really blew the juice of the locals.

The 2013 US Open champion of England set the club mark at six under par with a 69 and made it with a birdie at the last hole. Before that, he buried an eagle putt on the 14th to establish the unlikely arrival.

McIlroy signed for a under 70 and also finished at six under par. He also had an eagle at the par-5 14th and things seemed that they were there for the catch. But he could not break through after that and the four pairs coming in from there were just not enough.

Despite this, the Northern Irish will be happy to note that his game is back up there for the Majors. He has not won Major since 2014.

Schauffele, the PGA Tour rookie of the year, has long resembled Molinari's biggest threat despite four shots in three holes on the nine before, from where he bounced two birdies on 10 and 14. But the bogey at 17 killed his chances and the Italian was at home and dry.

This was the least that Molinari deserved. He was persistent, precise and above all calm.

He played with Woods as his flying companion and showed on Sunday that he is one of the best golfers – certainly the best right now.