Italian Molinari named Europe's player of the year

[December 11, 2018]  (Reuters) - Francesco Molinari was named the European Tour's Golfer of the Year for the first time on Monday, capping a stellar season in which he won the British Open to become the first Italian major champion.

The 36-year-old also won the PGA Championship at Wentworth, the Tour's flagship event, and claimed a maximum five points to help Europe beat the United States in the Ryder Cup.

"It is an award that means a lot to me and is a nice way to end a very special year," Molinari said in a statement.

"Winning at Wentworth, in one of our biggest events, gave me a lot of confidence for the summer, but obviously winning The Open at Carnoustie, becoming my country's first major champion, was incredible."

Molinari, who became the first European player to win five points out of five at the Ryder Cup in September, rounded off a remarkable year by clinching the Race to Dubai title.

"To go on to win the Race to Dubai and be part of that European Ryder Cup team in France was amazing," he added.

Italy's Francesco Molinari during the second round. Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers

"I'll always look back on this season and be proud of what happened."

(Reporting by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru, editing by Ed Osmond)

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