• WGC-HSBC Champions

Molinari edges Westwood in China

Lee Westwood could not catch Francesco Molinari © Getty Images

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Francesco Molinari has become the first player to lead the WGC-HSBC Champions tournament after every round as he held off Lee Westwood in a dramatic two-man duel for the title.

Molinari led Westwood by a single stroke after every round, including Sunday's final round after both players shot five-under 67s to finish on 19-under and 18-under respectively.

The Italian and the Englishman pulled clear of the chasing pack on Sunday, leaving them in a head-to-head battle in which new world No. 1 Westwood was never able to get the upper hand.

The pair went birdie for birdie in the final round until Westwood had one final chance to pull level with a tricky downhill birdie putt at the 18th green, but he was unable to hole a difficult attempt to force a play-off.

Molinari, who was cool, calm and collected throughout, may look back on an eagle he holed out from the fairway during Saturday's play as the piece of luck that delivered him the championship. The humble victor paid tribute to Westwood in the aftermath but he still immense credit for a consistent performance across four days only neared by the world's top player.

Following brother Edoardo Molinari's victory at the Johnnie Walker Championship and Italian teenager Matteo Manassero's victory at the Castello Masters a fortnight ago, Francesco Molinari capped off an impressive year for Italian golf.

"I wanted to add a title on my own for Italian golf," Molinari told Sky Sports. "Second place is really nice but winning is completely different. I am really happy that today was my day."

Westwood's second-place finish was more than enough to retain his No. 1 ranking, with the man he replaced finishing 11 shots behind. Tiger Woods' final-round 68 featured seven birdies but he was forced to rue an inconsistent display across the four days. Woods finished on seven-under on a seven-way tie for sixth including Paul Casey and Ernie Els.

Despite a final-round 73 Luke Donald was tied for third with Scotland's Richie Ramsay, but the pair were ten strokes off the leader on nine-under. Rory McIlroy started strongly with three birdies on his opening three holes and signed for 67 to finish one stroke further back.

World No. 3 Martin Kaymer and No. 4 Phil Mickelson had the chance to replace Westwood at world No. 1 with a strong showing in Shanghai, but neither managed to ignite their challenge. Kaymer's final-round 71 saw him finish on two-under, while Mickelson was three shots further back after a final-round 73.

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