July 02, 2018: A stunning final round 62 helped Francesco Molinari earn his maiden PGA TOUR title in emphatic fashion. The Italian scored a thumping eight stroke victory over Ryan Armour, with Sung Kang and Tiger Woods left trailing in his wake. Anirban Lahiri had another good week, following on his top ten finish at the Travelers, with a come back that earned him T13 at the Quicken Loans National.
Molinari, who decided to forego an opportunity to strengthen his European standing in the Open de France with a visit to Washington, found big rewards for taking a measured risk. Scores of 67-65-65-62 helped him dominate the stage at the TPC Potomac and secure his place in the Fedex Cup playoffs later next month. He finished at 21-under 259, eight better than Armour and nine ahead of Kang. Woods was a further stroke back with overnight co-leader Abraham Ancer.
Anirban shot nine straight pars before picking the pace up on the home stretch. In the span of five holes on the final nine, the Indian scored two birdies and an eagle at the 14th hole, punctuated by a bogey at the 11th.
The 101st ranked Lahiri hit 13 of 18 greens in regulation and played some spectacular golf on the home stretch to finish the week at 7 under for the tournament.
After scoring the first birdie of his day at the tenth, with the help of a brilliant approach shot, Anirban absorbed a penalty on the next. He reached the green in three and needed two on the green to concede his only bogey of the round.
Anirban had a shot at another birdie on the 12th, but missed from 12 feet. Stung by that miss, he made amends immediately, putting from 18 feet on the 13th for his second birdie.
At the par-4 14th hole, Anirban drove 286 yards to reach the green in one. He sank a ten footer for an eagle to cap off a good day at the office.
The result helped Anirban up to 86th on the FedexCup standings, leaving him secure for the next season but also giving himself plenty of time to prepare for an assault on the marquee events that line the calendar in August and September.
