Molinari beats Westwood by one in Shanghai

SHANGHAI, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- Francesco Molinari used early birdies Sunday to hold off Lee Westwood and win the PGA Tour's WGC-HSBC Championships tournament in Shanghai.

Molinari took the tournament lead Thursday with a 7-under 65 while Westwood was second at 6-under. That was the order that would stand through the tournament as they each shot 70 Friday and 67 Saturday.

Molinari and Westwood both shot bogey-free 5-under-par 67s in the final round and separated themselves from the rest of the field. But Molinari was able to edge Westwood by one stroke and win the event and $1.2 million

Molinari finished at 19-under 269 while Westwood was at 18-under. Luke Donald (73 Sunday) and Richie Ramsay (71) tied for third at 9-under 279.

Westwood had a shot at eagle on the final hole that would have tied Molinari but had to settle for a tap-in birdie and second by a stroke.

Molinari opened strong with birdies at Nos. 2, 3 and 5. Another birdie at the eighth hole allowed him to make the turn in 4-under. But Westwood, with birdies at 3, 5, 8 and 10, kept pace.

Molinari gave himself some breathing room with a 6-foot birdie putt at 16 that allowed him to survive Westwood's closing birdie.