Francesco Molinari out duels Lee Westwood @ the WGC-HSBC Champions in China

Francesco Molinari outlasted Lee Westwood in a spirited duel Sunday in the HSBC Champions for a one-shot victory to capture his first World Golf Championship and continue a memorable year for Italy.

Molinari closed with a 5-under 67 at Sheshan International for his first win this season, and only the second of his career. He spoiled the debut of Westwood as the world's No. 1 player, although the Englishman put up a fight worthy of his ranking.

Two shots behind on the par-5 18th, Westwood hit a powerful drive that left him only an iron into the green. He had a 25-foot eagle putt to force a playoff, but the ball stayed left of the hole the entire way, and Westwood had to settle for a 68.

It was only his second stroke-play tournament in three months, and Westwood played the final 43 holes without a bogey.

Molinari finished at 19-under 269.

"It wasn't easy," the Italian said. "I'm just really proud of the way I played and the way I handled myself. Lee is No. 1 in the world, and he was playing some fantastic golf. It was a great finish at the end."

Tiger Woods closed with a 68 and tied for sixth, 13 shots behind. It was only his third top 10 of the year, and his best finish since a tie for fourth at the U.S. Open. For the first time in his career, Woods failed to win on the PGA TOUR, ending a streak of 14 consecutive years with a victory.

"That's just the way it goes," Woods said. "It's not like I didn't try. It just didn't happen this year. But I'm pleased with the progress I've made of late. Things are building and heading in the right direction, which is good."

Molinari had not won since the Italian Open four years ago. He became the third Italian to win on the European Tour this year, joining brother Edoardo Molinari and Matteo Manassero. No doubt, the other wins inspired him.

"It makes me work a little harder," Molinari said. "Because I wanted to contribute to this golden moment of Italian golf."

Molinari, who earned $1.2 million, moved to No. 14 in the world ranking, three spots ahead of his brother.

Molinari built a two-shot cushion with a birdie on the second, and Westwood twice made clutch putts on the front nine after Molinari had already made birdie. When they reached the back nine, they were well clear of the rest of the pack.

Richie Ramsay of Scotland closed with a 71 and tied for third with Luke Donald, who faltered to a 73. For Ramsay, it was enough to secure a spot in the Race to Dubai finale at the end of the month.

Rory McIlroy had a 67 for a European sweep of the top five spots.

Molinari only had to tap in for par on the final hole for his 67 -- it was the third time this week he had the low round of the day -- and walked off the course as fireworks lit up the hazy sky over Sheshan International. The tournament was delayed 1 hour, 15 minutes at the start of the final round because of fog.

Westwood found little to complain about. He had a few bad breaks down the stretch, made big putts and whipped everyone in this field except for one player.

"I mean, 18-under par and nine shots clear of third is never too bad," he said. "Just needed the breaks to win and it didn't happen."

The final round turned on the 16th.

Westwood's tee shot on the 288-yard hole was just left of the green, with a pot bunker between him and the front flag. Molinari drove into the left rough, but hit a wedge to about 4 feet. Westwood had to play a delicate flop shot, and he caught it heavy. It didn't clear the bunker, staying in the thick collar of grass, and he had to settle for par.

Molinari made his putt to go two shots up with two holes to play, and it looked as if he was a lock when Westwood pulled his tee shot on the par-3 17th into a bunker, then blasted out 15 feet by the hole. But as he had done all day, Westwood made yet another big putt to save par, then gave himself a chance on the 18th.

His runner-up finish gives Westwood a larger cushion in the battle for No. 1, although he's still not safe.

Defending champion Phil Mickelson, who shot 73 and tied for 41st, and PGA champion Martin Kaymer, who shot 71 and tied for 30th, are playing next week in the Singapore Open. Woods remains at No. 2 and heads Down Under to defend at the Australian Masters.

"It wasn't really about the rankings," Westwood said. "It was about trying to win this week. The rankings come as a consequence of playing well, and I'm playing well. I know I am. Today is just very typical of how I've played for the last two years."

Westwood stays 1 back in China

SHANGHAI – Lee Westwood figured a 5-wood would be enough to carry the water on the par-5 18th and set up an easy birdie for a share of the lead Friday at the HSBC Champions.

Only when he got to the green did he realize the hole was closer to the edge of a slope than usual, and that his position some 15 yards left of the pin made it nearly impossible to keep it on the green. He had to settle for par, leaving him one shot behind Francesco Molinari.

“That’s why you shouldn’t play golf by memory,” he said after a 2-under 70.

That was only one shot on one hole.

As for the rest of the game, Westwood has total recall. It does not look as though the Englishman is playing in only his second tournament since the first week of August. He was on a roll this year, and the only difference now is the No. 1 ranking next to his name.

In his first tournament since replacing Tiger Woods atop the world ranking, Westwood didn’t know what to expect from his game in the final World Golf Championship of the year.

“Everything is pretty competitive in my game,” Westwood said. “It’s a good performance the first two rounds to come back. I’m pleasantly surprised with how well I’ve played.”

Equally happy was Molinari, whose game is built more on precision than power. Sheshan International measures 7,266 yards, which is a little on the long side for the Italian. But he opened up a four-shot lead with three early birdies, then held it together the rest of the round for a 70 and heads into the weekend at 9-under 135.

“To be better for my characteristics, the course will be probably a bit shorter and with thicker rough,” Molinari said. “So in theory, it should be the best course for me. But as I said, it’s a golf course that you can play many different ways.”

Ernie Els played it like he had nothing to lose, firing at flags on a day when a slightly stronger breeze made scoring slightly harder. Not for the Big Easy, who made eight birdies in a round of 65 and was only two shots behind, along with Richie Ramsay of Scotland and Jaco Van Zyl of South Africa, who had a 29 on his back nine.

Tiger Woods was still in the mix, just not as close to the lead as he would like. Woods hit into the water on the par-5 second, recovered with a pair of birdies, then dropped three shots in a four-hole stretch around the turn. All the putts inside 10 feet that he made in the opening round stayed out on Friday.

Frustration set in late in the round, especially with his final tee shot that he hooked into the rough. Woods let the driver fall from his hands, then he kicked the club about five yards in front of the tee box.

He shot 72, and was five shots out of the lead in the only World Golf Championship he has not won.

“Struggled a little bit,” he said later. “Didn’t hit it very good and had a couple of three-putts there, and had five lip-outs. So my score could have been worse, but it also could have been a lot better.”

Defending champion Phil Mickelson, who played with Westwood, shot a 71 and joined Woods at 4-under 140. PGA champion Martin Kaymer had a 69 and was another shot behind.

The top four players in the world were all in the top 20 heading into the weekend, adding to the anticipation of the first skirmish for the No. 1 ranking. Any of them can get there by winning.

With all the attention on the “Big Four” in Shanghai, Molinari keeps plodding along.

“I think it’s really exciting for everyone watching that one of the four guys could be No. 1 in the world at the end of the week,” Molinari said. “But for us, it doesn’t really make a difference. We play together with them, against them, pretty much week in and week out. So I think everyone is really just focusing on improving his ranking rather than seeing who is going to be on top.”

Luke Donald, who keeps steadily moving up the rankings despite only one victory in Europe this year, shot 70 and was at 6-under 138. Woods and Mickelson had plenty of company at 140, including Padraig Harrington, Ian Poulter, newlywed Nick Watney and Robert Allenby.

The strongest move came from Els, who got a small measure of redemption on the final hole.

A year ago, Els had a chance to shoot 61 in the final round and win the tournament. He had a downhill lie in the 18th fairway and tried to cut a 5-wood into the green, only to catch it fat and watch it go into the water. He made bogey and finished one shot behind.

With an identical shot this year, Els went with a 4-iron. It barely cleared the water, ran through the back of the green and he hit a delicate putt down the slope to 3 feet for a birdie.

“Just after I hit that shot last year, I said, ‘I should have gone with a 4-iron instead of trying to cut a 5-wood.’ That was probably the shot I should have played last year,” Els said. “I would have shot 61 and I would have won the tournament. Yeah, I did think about it.”

Els also made another putter switch, using the one he tried for two rounds last week in Malaysia. He said it helped playing with Woods because of how the former No. 1 looks so comfortable over putts.

Maybe so, but Woods didn’t look terribly comfortable after so many putts failed to drop.

Molinari continues to lead in China after 2 rounds

In his first tournament at No. 1 in the world and having played only one tournament in three months, Lee Westwood could be satisfied with being a shot behind leader Francesco Molinari entering the weekend at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions.

Molinari built a big lead early before stumbling to a couple of bogeys, then held on for a 2-under 70 that gave him a two-round total of 9-under 135 in the event.

Sheshan International is not particularly suited to the Italian's game because it's long and he's not. But he found his way around to take the limelight from four players fighting out the No.1 ranking.

Ernie Els got a small measure of redemption on the 18th hole at Sheshan International and finished with a birdie for a 7-under 65, putting him among those two shots behind.

Tiger Woods remains in the mix, although not nearly close as he would like. Woods struggled with his swing and on the greens, so frustrated at the end of his round that he kicked his driver after a poor shot on the 18th. He still managed a 72, and will go into the weekend five shots off the lead.

"My score could have been worse," Woods said. "But it also could have been a lot better."

Defending champion Phil Mickelson had a 71 and was at 4-under 140, while Martin Kaymer had a 69 and was another shot behind.

With all the attention on the "Big Four" in Shanghai -- Westwood, Woods, Kaymer and Mickelson all have a chance to go to No. 1 this week -- Molinari keeps plodding along.

"It's really exciting for everyone watching that one of the four guys could be No. 1 in the world at the end of the week," Molinari said. "But for us, it doesn't really make a difference. We play together with them, against them, pretty much week in and week out. So everyone is really just focusing on improving his ranking rather than seeing who is going to be on top."

Westwood made sure he stayed very close.

He was rarely under much stress, except for one tee shot that bounded into the trees along the left side of the 11th fairway that led to his lone bogey. But he bounced back with birdies on the par-5 14th, and by hitting a driver onto and just over the 288-yard 16th for another simple birdie.

Westwood was poised to catch Molinari at the end, with a tee shot in the fairway on the par-5 18th and a decision to make. With the pin cut toward the front in a small collection area, caddie Billy Foster recommended that he lay up and have a full shot into the green. Westwood decided to go for the green with a 5-wood, and wound up left of the green and in an impossible spot.

His chip ran through the green, and he had to settle for par.

"That flag, when it's on the front, is normally not as close to the slope as it was today," Westwood said. "It's normally further across on the right-hand side, so you've got a little bit more room to play. That's why you shouldn't play golf by memory."

As for the rest of the game, there were few complaints.

"Everything is pretty competitive in my game," Westwood said. "It's a good performance the first two rounds to come back to. Like I said, I didn't know what to expect, and I'm pleasantly surprised with how well I've played."

Els was joined at 7-under 137 with Richie Ramsay of Scotland and Jaco Van Zyl of South Africa, who shot 29 on his back nine.

A year ago, Els had a chance to shoot 61 in the final round and win the tournament. He had a downhill lie in the 18th fairway and tried to cut a 5-wood into the green, only to catch it fat and watch it go into the water. He made bogey and finished one shot behind.

With an identical shot this year, Els went with a 4-iron. It barely cleared the water, ran through the back of the green and he hit a delicate putt down the slope to 3 feet for a birdie.

"Just after I hit that shot last year, I said, 'I should have gone with a 4-iron instead of trying to cut a 5-wood.' That was probably the shot I should have played last year," Els said. "I would have shot 61 and I would have won the tournament. Yeah, I did think about it."

Els also made another putter switch, using the one he tried for two rounds last week in Malaysia. He said it helped playing with Woods because of how the former No. 1 looks so comfortable over putts.

Maybe so, but Woods didn't look terribly comfortable after so many putts caught the lip.

He was tied for second place early in the round, just three shots behind Molinari, when he made three bogeys in a four-hole stretch around the turn, his frustration growing. After a bogey on the 15th, and after watching Els hit driver onto the 16th green, Woods still opted with an iron and hit that into a bunker.

The real frustration came on the 18th with a snap hook off the tee. He let the club fall from his hands, then booted it about five yards. Worse yet was missing a 6-foot birdie that would have put him that much closer to Molinari.

Mike Weir to start 2011 PGA Tour season on a major medical exemption

Mike Weir, who has been nursing a torn ligament in his right elbow, will start the 2011 PGA TOUR season playing on a major medical exemption.

That means Weir will have five events to earn enough money to equal that of the player who finishes No. 125 on the 2010 money list. If he does, he will be fully exempt for the 2011 season. If not, he will still have status as a past champion.

Weir earned $559,092 this season. With the PGA TOUR's final event to be played next week, Troy Matteson currently stands 125th on the money list with $723,328.

"I'm going to come out prepared and ready, and I fully believe I won't have any trouble reaching that goal," Weir wrote in a blog on his website.

The injury first surfaced during the British Open. Weir has not played since the Wyndham Championship, opting to treat the injury with rest and rehabiliation rather than surgery.

"In the last week or so I've been actually taking a few shots -- nothing too serious, just doing a little pitching and chipping and hitting a couple of 5-irons off a tee," Weir wrote. "I'm slowly trying to see where it is and how it feels and so far, so good. My doctors are pleased with how the recovery is going.

"I'm not yet ready to try hitting into the ground -- I'm still a little worried about impact -- but these small steps have been encouraging. Still, there's no guarantee about anything yet in the recovery. It's a day-to-day thing."

Weir does plan to play in the Shark Shootout Dec. 10-12 in Naples, Fla. He will partner with K.J. Choi in what is the tournament debut for both men.

"I know I won't be able to go full bore there such as hit buckets and buckets of practice balls, but I'm itching to get going again and I hope that will be the start," Weir wrote.

Weir has taken advantage of the break from competition to spend time with his family, go fishing and run a 5K charity event. He's also made his own wine -- picking the grapes off his property, renting a press and putting the liquid into a carboy to ferment.

Weir also said in his blog that he plans to be his own swing coach, much like the way he handles his fitness routine and mental game. His long-time caddie Brennan Little will be his "second set of eyes" and he can also go see instructor Mike Wilson, if necessary.

"It's all about taking ownership of my game," Weir said. "While this layoff has been good in that it allowed me to recharge the batteries and assess my situation, I'm also anxious to get back out there."

Louis Oosthuizen back in action after freak hunting accident

Louis Oosthuizen hasn’t been doing much of a victory lap since winning the British Open at St. Andrews. For about the last two months, he has barely been able to walk.

Oosthuizen is playing for the first time in about two months as he recovers from a freak ankle injury while hunting in South Africa. It is still bothering him, but a 3-under 69 on Thursday at the HSBC Champions took away some of the sting.

“My first round back … it didn’t feel too great, the ankle,” Oosthuizen said. “I thought if I walk off close to level par, or even 1 or 2 over, it would be satisfying. I played nicely. Short game was quite good, and just a few shows where I’m very restricted on turning. But I found a way out there.”

The 28-year-old South African last played on Sept. 12, when he finished in a share of fourth place at the Dutch Open. He headed home for a holiday, which included some hunting and going to the wedding of good friend Charl Schwartzel.

But his plans went awry quickly.

He wounded a buck and was running after it when Oosthuizen tripped in a pot hole and tore the ligaments in his left ankle. Instead of going straight to the hospital, Oosthuizen figured out a way to keep hunting.

“It was the first day of the hunting trip, and I strapped it up,” he said. “But I properly strapped it up. I felt like I had cement around my ankle, that’s how bad I strapped it. So I was still hunting for another two days, but off my feet. I was on the back of a pickup, so I didn’t walk or run or anything.”

He eventually got the diagnosis, and was told it would take anywhere from four to six weeks to heal. Oosthuizen had to skip the PGA Grand Slam of Golf in Bermuda, along with a celebrated return to St. Andrews for the Dunhill Links Championship.

Even though he made it to the HSBC Champions, he is playing with a brace – and will until the end of January, at least.

“The doctors and physios and everyone are so scared of accidentally tripping over it, or even by walking and having an awkward stance in a bunker and things like that,” he said.

Oosthuizen is eighth in the Order of Merit on the European Tour, most likely too far behind to catch up in the Race to Dubai. He’s not worried about that at the moment. In fact, he’s not worried about anything.

“I just want to get back into playing, and playing solid,” he said. “I’m just out there and trying to have fun with everything that’s going on with the ankle. I’m still not expecting too much. I’m just going to get back into it.”


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Italian young gun Francesco Molinari leads the WGC-HSBC

With so much being made about the No. 1 world ranking this week, it was Francesco Molinari who stole the limelight at the WGC-HSBC Champions event.

Molinari, ranked 30th in the world, fired a seven-under 65 on Thursday to take the first-round lead at Sheshan International Golf Club.

Lee Westwood certainly showed his spectacular form in his first round as world No. 1. The Englishman, who supplanted Tiger Woods for the top spot on Monday, shot a six-under 66 and is alone in second place.

"It's only the first round of tournament and my main focus is on trying to win this HSBC Champions event," said Westwood, who missed several weeks with a leg injury." So I didn't really go out there with any particular thought to performing like the world No. 1 really."

Henrik Stenson, Yuta Ikeda and Seung-yul Noh share third place at minus-five.

Speaking of Woods, his opening round four-under 68 put him in a tie for sixth place with Pablo Martin and Luke Donald.

This represents Woods' final chance for a PGA Tour win this season. (It is considered a PGA Tour victory if the winner is a member of the PGA Tour.) Woods' tumultuous 2010 campaign hasn't yielded a victory and that hasn't happened in his 14 years as a professional.

"I got to No. 1 in the world by winning golf tournaments, and I've had that sustainability for a number of years by doing that," said Woods, who was No. 1 since 2005. "That's how you have to do it. Unfortunately I haven't done it this year. So hence, I've dropped down to No. 2."

Defending champion Phil Mickelson started with a three-under 69 on Thursday, while reigning PGA winner and Race to Dubai leader Martin Kaymer only managed an even-par 72 in round one.

Woods, Mickelson or Kaymer can make Westwood's stay atop the rankings a brief one with a victory this week.

But all of these men with No. 1 aspirations will have to get by Molinari.

The Italian began his first round on the 10th tee and parred his first three holes. He rattled off back-to-back birdies at 13 and 14, and then added a third front-nine birdie at the par-four 16th.

Molinari parred Nos. 1 and 2, but a chip-in birdie at the par-four third got him to four-under par. That hole-out birdie also kick-started a run that sent Molinari to the top of the leaderboard.

Molinari tapped in a short birdie putt at the fourth and was tied for the lead at five-under par. He took sole possession of first with an eight-foot birdie putt at No. 6, and then padded his cushion with a beautiful birdie at the par- three sixth. Molinari's tee ball rolled down a hill, back to 10 feet from the flagstick and he sank the putt to move to minus-seven.

Westwood cut the gap to one and, after some sketchy approach shots produced pars, Molinari appeared to be in some trouble at the ninth, his final hole. His second landed slightly long and right at No. 9, but his delicate chip stopped inches from the hole. Molinari tapped in to preserve his one-shot, first-round lead.

"Conditions were perfect, so I knew the scoring was a bit lower than maybe what everybody was expecting," said Molinari. "You know, I played well. I putted well. So everything seems in the right place at the moment."

Mickelson was joined in a tie for ninth by British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen, Richie Ramsay, Katsumasa Miyamoto, Ryan Palmer, Fredrik Andersson Hed, Adam Scott, Ross Fisher and former PGA winner Y.E. Yang.

NOTES: Molinari won the World Cup of Golf in China with brother Edoardo last year...Francesco has only one win on the European Tour and that came at the 2006 Italian Open...Noh,19, could be the youngest winner in World Golf Championships history.

Tiger talks about losing #1 world ranking