With this Win
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2010 – WGC – HSBC CHAMPIONS
FRANCESCO MOLINARI
• His second European Tour International Schedule victory in his 172nd European Tour event.
• His first European Tour victory since the 2006 Italian Open – a gap of four years and 185 days.
• Played in 125 European Tour events between victories.
• In that time has been second six times. They were: 2006 Omega European Masters, 2008 Mercedes-Benz Championship, 2009 Hong Kong Open (Nov 08), 2009 Portugal Masters, 2010 Alstom Open de France and 2010 Portugal Masters.
• His first WGC victory of his career, in his fifth WGC appearance.
• This victory beats his previous best WGC performance of a tie for tenth in the 2009 WGC – HSBC Champions.
• The third WGC victory won by a European Tour Member in 2010; They are: Ian Poulter (WGC – Accenture Match Play), Ernie Els (WGC – CA Championship) and Francesco Molinari (WGC – HSBC Champions). Since the WGC events began in 1999 this marks the first time three European Tour Members have won three of these events in the same season.
• Becomes the 17th different winner of a WGC event since they began in 1999. Italy now becomes the ninth different country to win a WGC event.
• Joins Darren Clarke, Ernie Els, Henrik Stenson, Vijay Singh, Geoff Ogilvy and Ian Poulter as European Tour Members to win a WGC event.
• Moves into the top 15 of the Official World Golf Ranking; his highest career position.
OTHER FACTS
• Becomes the first wire-to-wire winner in the history of the WGC – HSBC Champions.
• The third wire-to-wire winner of the 2010 European Tour season, following Marcus Fraser (Ballantine’s Championship) and Luke Donald (Madrid Masters).
• Won the 2006 Italian Open, the only other time he has led going into the final round of a European Tour event.
• Fourth Italian victory of the 2010 European Tour season, following his brother Edoardo Molinari (The Barclays Scottish Open and Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles) and Matteo Manassero (CASTELLÓ MASTERS Costa Azahar). This represents the most Italian wins in a single European Tour season.
• The Molinari brothers now join Seve and Maunel Ballesteros, who in 1983 both won, (Seve – PGA Championship, Irish Open and Trophée Lancôme; Manuel – Timex Open), as the only brothers to win in the same European Tour season.
• Victory marks the first time in European Tour history that three different Italian players have won in the same European Tour season.
• The 15th Italian victory in European Tour history.
• Wins for the second time in China having partnered his brother, Edoardo, in Italy’s first win in the Omega Mission Hills World Cup last year.
• Moves to €2,201,613 in The Race to Dubai; his highest total in a single season and the first time he has passed €2 million in a season.
• Moves through €6 million in European Tour Official Career Earnings.
• Gains his highest European Tour prize of €860,153.
• Gains a three year European Tour exemption.
• Second win as a professional.
