PGA TOUR: The biggest winners and losers of the 2018 season

ST LOUIS, MO - AUGUST 12: Brooks Koepka of the United States poses with the Wanamaker Trophy on the 18th green after winning the 2018 PGA Championship with a score of -16 at Bellerive Country Club on August 12, 2018 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

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CARNOUSTIE, SCOTLAND – JULY 22: Francesco Molinari of Italy celebrates with the Claret Jug after winning the 147th Open Championship at Carnoustie Golf Club on July 22, 2018 in Carnoustie, Scotland. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images) /

It is hard to believe that it took until 2018 for the first Italian born player to win a major championship, but Molinari was the one to break that barrier down. He was another player that had to face off against a newly energized Tiger Woods and he looked like the much better player in their pairing the entire round on Sunday at the British Open.

Molinari started out three shots behind the leaders, but shot a bogey free final round 69 (-2) and birdied the final hole to finish at -8 overall for the tournament.

Molinari also finished in the top ten at the PGA championship to cap off his impressive major season. Being competitive in the last major of the year proved his win at Carnoustie was no fluke, so it would not be surprising to see his name on the leaderboard in the big tournaments moving forward.

2018 was Molinari’s break out season, and he became a house hold name. He won a total of three tournaments, which is more that the two cuts he missed all season.

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