POTOMAC, Md. – Francesco Molinari delivered a record performance to win the final edition of the PGA Tour's Quicken Loans National.
Molinari holed a 50-foot eagle putt to start the back nine, and he didn't stop until he turned the final round into a runaway Sunday at TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm. The Italian closed with an 8-under 62 for an eight-shot victory, matching the largest margin this year on the PGA Tour.
Molinari followed that eagle putt with an approach to 2 feet on No. 11, where only one other birdie was made in the final round. He made three more birdies and ended his round by missing a birdie putt from 8 feet.
No matter. He finished at 21-under 259, breaking the tournament record by seven shots.
"It was a lot easier than I thought," Molinari said with a wide grin. "I played great. The start of the back nine was incredible."
Tiger Woods closed with a 66, his lowest final round in more than five years, and he was never close. Woods tied for fourth, his best result since a runner-up finish at the Valspar Championship three months ago, though he was 10 shots behind.
"I thought that maybe if I got on the back nine, I shot 30 — maybe 29 — that would be enough," Woods said. "Evidently, I would have to shoot 24 on the back nine."
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