Edoardo Molinari gets first European Tour title

Golf Betting Lines

07/11/2010 - Glasgow, Scotland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Edoardo Molinari only managed a three- over 74 on Sunday, but it was still enough to earn his first European Tour title at the Scottish Open.

Molinari finished off his maiden tour victory at 12-under 272 and won by three strokes at Loch Lomond Golf Club.

He teamed with his brother Francesco to win the World Cup last year for his native Italy and he won five times on the European Challenge Tour, but Sunday was his first win and he had his brother there the whole way.

Francesco played in Sunday's final group with Edoardo and now the two are both European Tour winners.

"I think it was very special," said Edoardo. "It was strange, but on Tuesday morning we were talking about the fact we've never together played well in the same week. It was a great day for both of us."

Darren Clarke rounded out the final threesome, but struggled to a five-over 76 on Sunday. He finished second at nine-under 275, but despite not getting his first win in two years, Clarke got something out of Sunday's tough round.

He earned an invitation to St. Andrews next week for the British Open Championship. Clarke finished highest in the top five and wasn't otherwise eligible.

"The Open is a consolation prize, but if somebody had said at the start of the week that I would finish second I think I would have taken it," said Clarke.

Clarke tripped up Raphael Jacquelin, who was going for that St. Andrews spot. Jacquelin carded a three-under 68 in the final round and took third place at minus-eight.

Francesco Molinari shot a one-over 72 on Sunday and tied for fourth place with Stephen Gallacher (68) and Peter Hedblom (72). The trio came in at seven- under-par 277.

But, even with a 74, Sunday belonged to the older Molinari.

Edoardo Molinari began the final round with a one-shot lead and it stayed at that margin after he and Clarke bogeyed No. 2. The third hole proved to be the swing hole for the entire round.

Clarke's third landed in the water in front of the green at the par-five hole. He tried to lash out of the drink, but the ball stayed in the water. Clarke walked off with a double-bogey seven and Edoardo Molinari converted a three- foot birdie putt to take a four-shot lead.

"I was trying to play conservatively," said Edoardo Molinari, who moved past his younger brother in the world rankings with Sunday's victory.

Clarke missed a five-foot par putt at five and was suddenly five behind. Edoardo Molinari bogeyed six and seven to trim his margin, but when Clarke missed the green at 11 and made bogey, the Italian was four in front.

A birdie at 14 gave Edoardo Molinari a five-shot lead, but things got tight thanks to an errant drive at 15. He carded a double-bogey and his cushion was three strokes.

"Disaster struck on 15, but I managed myself pretty well today," said the champion.

At the 17th, Clarke hit his tee ball to six feet, but Edoardo Molinari played his to eight feet. Edoardo Molinari missed his birdie putt, but Clarke didn't and it was a two-shot difference with 18 to go.

Both players found the fairway off the tee and Edoardo Molinari hit his approach almost 40 feet short of the stick. Clarke had a decent look at birdie, but the older Molinari ran his putt less than a foot past the hole.

He tapped in for the win.

"I was very nervous," admitted Edoardo Molinari. "I held on. I'm very, very proud."

Clarke three-putted for bogey after the outcome was decided.

Shane Lowry shot an even-par 71 and took seventh at minus-six, followed by Johan Edfors (68), Rory Sabbatini (71) and Ross Fisher (70), who tied for eighth at five-under 279.

NOTES: Former Masters champion Trevor Immelman had a 70 and took a solo 11th at three-under...U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell, who played for the first time since his Pebble Beach breakthrough, shot a four-over 75 and tied for 21st at plus-one...Next week is the third major, the British Open Championship, which was won last year by Stewart Cink.

Cbaaports Golf Betting News

<< Czechs complete Davis Cup quarterfinal win over Chile
Coquimbo, Chile (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ivo Minar won the second reverse singles match for the Czech Republic on Sunday to complete a 4-1 rout of host Chile in the Davis Cup quarterfinals. Minar posted a 7-6 (7-2), 6-2 victory over Cristobal

<< Kuo to replace Heyward at All-Star game
NEW YORK (AP) -Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Hong-Chih Kuo has been selected to replace injured Atlanta Braves outfielder Jason Heyward at the All-Star game.Heyward is on the 15-day disabled list because of a deep bone bruise in his left thumb. He wi

<< Royals' Greinke scratched from start
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Kansas City Royals scratched reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke from his scheduled start Sunday against the Chicago White Sox. The right-hander is experiencing discomfort

<< Astros name Bagwell hitting coach
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Houston Astros have named Jeff Bagwell their new hitting coach, replacing the fired Sean Berry. Bagwell had been serving as a special assistant to the general manager since his retirement in 2006. He

<< Wiesberger wins on Challenge Tour
Monthieux, France (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Austria's Bernd Wiesberger fired a course-record, nine-under 62 on Sunday to come from behind and win the Allianz Golf Open de Lyon on the European Challenge Tour. Wiesberger finished at 17-under

Bagwell taking over as Astros hitting coach >>
HOUSTON (AP) -Former Astros All-Star Jeff Bagwell is taking over as Houston's hitting coach after the team fired Sean Berry on Sunday.Berry became ``a victim of circumstances'' as the Astros' offense has sputtered this season, general manager Ed Wad

Phillies strike out on replay reviews >>
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -The Philadelphia Phillies went 0 for 2 on video replay reviews after two doubles were not changed into home runs against the Cincinnati Reds.Carlos Ruiz led off the third inning Sunday with a ground-rule double when a fan reached

Dodgers' Kuo to replace Heyward on All-Star team >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Hong-Chih Kuo has been named as the replacement for Atlanta outfielder Jason Heyward on the National League All-Star team. Heyward was a fan-elected starter for the team,

World Cup final scoreless at halftime >>
Johannesburg, South Africa (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Netherlands and Spain are scoreless through 45 minutes of the FIFA World Cup final at Soccer City Stadium on Sunday. Spain threatened a few times in the early going and nearly

Twins salvage series finale with Tigers >>
Detroit, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Michael Cuddyer went 2-for-3 with a two-run double and scored a run, as the Minnesota Twins defeated the Detroit Tigers, 6-3, in the finale of a three-game series at Comerica Park. Jason Kubel chipped i

Elite 8 NCAA Tournament Betting at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com

In what should be an outstanding Saturday of March Madness betting action, the top four teams in the South and West Regions square off in what should be extremely close match-ups. Three of the four teams are coming off extremely close games on Thursday evening, only UCLA won semi comfortably over Pitt 64-55.

Ohio State is coming off their second game in a row where in all reality they should have lost. Of course that doesn’t matter now since the name of the game is “survive and advance” but as the tournament continues, they can’t afford to keep getting down to their opponents early. Kansas also avoided a scare by holding off a scrappy Southern Illinois squad. In the third thrilling game of the evening Memphis pulled off the minor upset (+3.5) despite being the higher seed to Texas A&M.

Although the spreads are fairly small for Saturday’s games, MySportsbook.com continue to bet against the underdogs. Despite OSU’s two scares, 86% of the “betting public” feels the Buckeyes (-1.5) have what it takes to make the Final Four. In fact, so much of the early money is on OSU that the line has already moved from -1 to -1.5. In the second game of the doubleheader, Kansas and their high-powered offense are 2 point favorites as they take on UCLA and their effective defense. About 63% of the early money thus far is once again backing the favorites. If those percentages stay that high, don’t be surprised if this line moves as well. If you like Kansas (-2) you might want to jump on it early.

Memphis vs. Ohio State

Both squads were involved in thrillers on Thursday evening and should come out fired up. OSU can ill afford to get behind early like they did versus their previous two opponents (Xavier, Tennessee). Greg Oden needs to stay out of foul trouble; the Buckeyes are a completely different team when he is on the court. Memphis definitely has the athleticism and length to match-up with OSU. Of Memphis’ five leading minute earners, the shortest of the bunch is 6’5”. Each team has a very effective defense; Memphis surrenders 62.3 PPG whereas the Buckeyes give up only 61 PPG. With those type of numbers, it isn’t surprising that Memphis covered the UNDER almost 69% of the time this season. As a favorite, OSU has covered the UNDER almost 66% of the time over the last three seasons. The major concern for Memphis which is magnifies this time of the year is their brutal foul shooting (62%). This season, OSU is 17-11 ATS versus teams with a winning record and 7-2 ATS in all tournament games. Memphis has been an extremely reliable cover in tournament play in recent years with a 23-8 ATS record over the last three seasons.

UCLA vs. Kansas

In the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader, UCLA will play in a role which they are very unfamiliar with that of the underdog. Only twice this season have they been getting points from the handicappers and both times they covered. Over the last three seasons UCLA is a reliable 23-7 ATS in this unfamiliar role. UCLA has not fared well against Big 12 opponents recently going 1-7 ATS since 1997. Giving up only 59.6 PPG, UCLA will definitely look to do what they do best: keep this game as low scoring as possible. Their defense has been especially tough during the tournament. UCLA opponents have been able to muster up only 48.7 PPG while shooting a combined 34.5% from the field. UCLA definitely has a challenge at hand with a Kansas team that is capable of putting points on the board in bunches. As a team, they average 79 PPG and shoot an impressive 49.6% from the field and 39.4% from beyond the arc. During the tournament Kansas has been “lights out” from the field having shot 56.2%.

With Friday -105 juice on Basketball betting, MySportsbook.com is the place to bet on all of the “March Madness” action.  Don’t forget to monitor who the public is backing at MySportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends”.  By doing so, you have the best chance of predicting a possible line change, thus getting the best value for your wager.

To bet on March Madness games this online sportsbook accepts credit cards