The Open 2018 - as it happened: Francesco Molinari wins first-ever Major title

All the action from the final round at Carnoustie

The Open Championship in numbers

Francesco Molinari became the first Italian player to win a major title after one of the most dramatic final rounds in Open Championship history.

Molinari, who had two wins and two second places in his previous five starts this season, carded a nerveless closing 69 at a windswept Carnoustie to finish eight under par, two shots clear of Justin Rose, Rory McIlroy, Kevin Kisner and Xander Schauffele.

Playing alongside a rejuvenated Tiger Woods, Molinari followed 13 straight pars with a birdie on the 14th and finished a brilliant round in fitting style with another from just three feet on the 18th.

Here's how it played out:

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[22 July 2018 12:22 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Reed saves par

Like a ballroom champion, Patrick Reed looks confident on the dance floor.

He drops in a lengthy putt to save par and stay at one-under. 

Rickie Fowler misses his birdie putt. 

[22 July 2018 12:27 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Tiger Woods has never won a major coming from behind, but after his brilliant round yesterday, he's in with a chance.

[22 July 2018 12:40 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Bang and Olesen

Lovely shot in to the first from Thorbjorn Olesen. Right at the flag over the bunker, pitching on the fringe and hopping forward to leave a short birdie putt. 

A chance to move to -4.

[22 July 2018 12:47 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Olesen does indeed knock in the birdie chance.

At the other end of the first, Danny Willett starts his final round alongside Ryan Moore. Both of them start at -3.

[22 July 2018 12:54 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

The wind is definitely blowing, but Bernhard Langer is unperturbed as he strokes home a birdie on the fifth after a wonderful approach to within a few feet. 

A par for Willett but a bogey for Moore on the first.

[22 July 2018 12:58 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Hello...

Thorbjorn Olesen has followed up his opening birdie with another on the second. He's up to five-under.

The Dane won the Italian Open at the start of the month. On the charge.

[22 July 2018 13:00 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

There are birdies to be found out there, and ​Eddie Pepperell has found three in four holes. He's another in good form, finishing second at the Scottish Open last week. To -4 goes the Englishman.

Another long par save for Patrick Reed. 

[22 July 2018 13:01 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Fowler moustache update:

It is certainly something.

[22 July 2018 13:08 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

A well-judged putt on three for Thorbjorn Olesen, but it is a few inches right of the hole. Par.

[22 July 2018 13:16 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

No birdie on the eighth for Eddie Pepperell as he finds the sand off the tee.

A decent bunker shot but still a medium-length par putt to stay at four-under.