Sport Book Service | The Open 2018: Francesco Molinaris sensational final-hole birdie seals Claret Jug win on dramatic last day at Carnoustie

FRANCESCO MOLINARI made a sensational final-hole birdie to become Italy's first Major champion and beat the game's biggest names at Carnoustie.

The 35-year-old from Turin - a big West Ham fan - claimed the Claret Jug in style to cap off the summer of his life.

Francesco Molinari celebrates with the Claret JugCredit: Getty

Fran Molinari saw off the game's heavyweights at windswept CarnoustieCredit: Reuters

Francesco Molinari is the 2018 Open championCredit: Getty Images - Getty

Tiger Woods faltered with a double-bogey, Justin Rose produced a birdie blitz over the weekend and Rory McIlroy made a spectacular eagle, but all three fell short.

Molinari, a robot-like ballstriker who won Tiger Woods' tournament by EIGHT shots last month, took home the trophy after finishing at eight under on a nerve-shredding final day.

And this career-changing triumph will postpone his own retirement plans, which included being a Twitter troll and drinking three cups of coffee a day in just two-and-a-half years' time.

Woods briefly held the lead on his own before messing up the par-four 11th and then bogeying the 12th.

Francesco Molinari reacts after winning the 147th Open at Carnoustie and hopes it will inspire people in Italy

No one could stop the Italian as he became the first man from his country to claim a MajorCredit: PA:Press Association

Tiger Woods was on the charge before a double bogey derailed his momentumCredit: Getty Images

Rory McIlroy exploded into life with a stunning eagle on the 14th holeCredit: AFP

Tiger Woods and Rory Mcilroy both react after the final round of the 147th Open at Carnoustie

Four-time Major champ McIlroy was plodding along before exploding into life with a monster eagle putt on the 14th.

He just missed a birdie try on the last to finish two short on six under - the same as England's Justin Rose.

The 2013 US Open winner set the clubhouse target after birdieing the last in dramatic fashion.

Rose made mincemeat of the brutal closing hole, playing it in one under all four days after making the cut on the number at three over.

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Justin Rose birdied Carnoustie's brutal 18th for the fourth time to cap off an amazing weekend move

The 2013 US Open champion made the cut on the number before giving himself a chance for glory

Defending champion Jordan Spieth suffered a final day collapse at CarnoustieCredit: Reuters

Tiger Woods appears to ignore excited fans who want an autograph at the Open in Carnoustie

His nine-under charge on the weekend - with rounds of 64 and 69 - was the best of anyone in the field.

Earlier in the day fellow countryman Eddie Pepperell had set the mark at five under following his 67, which he pulled off while still hungover from the night before.

Defending champion and joint-overnight leader Jordan Spieth had a nightmare day with the putter and carded a five-over 76.

That was the worst score of anyone in the top 35 players and meant he barely scraped into the top ten.

American duo Kevin Kisner and Xander Schauffele started the final round tied with Spieth on nine under but both shot three over to share second with Rose and McIlroy.

Molinari - who started the week at 33/1 to win - puts to bed the ghosts of Constantino Rocca.

His fellow Italian lost a play-off to John Daly at St Andrews in 1995 after duffing a chip on the 72nd hole.