Molinari looked totally in control throughout the week in his bid to become only the fifth reigning Open Champion to win the Masters, but a double bogey on the 12th when he found Rae’s Creek short of the green and then a second double on the 15th, again finding water, ended his hopes of a second Major title.
“It was just a bad execution (on 12),” said Molinari. “We picked the right shot and just didn't hit it hard enough, simple as that.
“Probably one bad swing and one bad decision - on 15 - trying to go for the flag from the left side. We'll never know, if it doesn't clip the branch, but I should have gone for the middle of the green and try to make something happen on the last three holes.”
Molinari looked totally in control throughout the week in his bid to become only the fifth reigning Open Champion to win the Masters, but a double bogey on the 12th when he found Rae’s Creek short of the green and then a second double on the 15th, again finding water, ended his hopes of a second Major title.
“It was just a bad execution (on 12),” said Molinari. “We picked the right shot and just didn't hit it hard enough, simple as that.
“Probably one bad swing and one bad decision - on 15 - trying to go for the flag from the left side. We'll never know, if it doesn't clip the branch, but I should have gone for the middle of the green and try to make something happen on the last three holes.”
And Tony Finau is clearly loving Augusta National after following his tied tenth finish on his debut last year with a top five this year, although his hopes also sunk in Rae’s Creek on the 12th.
“For me it was fun being a part of the action,” said Finau. “And it's a lot of fun to be in that type of atmosphere. It's what I practice for, what I play for, what I train for. My time is coming. I know it is. And I've just got to keep riding the storm.”
His young son was with him this week and when asked what he would tell him when he was old enough, replied: “I'll tell him I was there when Tiger won his 15th major in the final group.
“You can't say enough about Tiger and what he's done for the game. It's great for him to be involved in the game and now he's got his 15th major.”
