Molinari's 12-under-par 272 total gave him victory by three strokes over Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke, who led for the first two rounds. Clarke's 76 was still enough to earn him a place in this week's British Open one stroke ahead of Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin.

Jacquelin holed a 50-foot putt on the last to total eight-under while Clarke slipped back to nine-under by three-putting the 18th.

The winner's younger brother Francesco (72), with whom he won the World Cup of golf last year, took a share of fourth place, five shots adrift of his sibling, with Swede Peter Hedblom (72) and Scotland's Stephen Gallacher (68).

Starting only a stroke ahead of Clarke, Edoardo Molinari soon broke four clear of the Ulsterman, who ran up a double-bogey on the long third. Clarke took three strokes to emerge from a hazard.

When brother Francesco, beginning the round five strokes in arrears of his sibling, also bogeyed the hole by straying on to the loch beach, the outcome of the tournament was in little doubt.

Edoardo made mistakes in strong winds and occasional heavy rain, running up a double-bogey on 15 after hitting into the woods, to give himself a nervy finale before picking up the $743,500 first prize.
 

In Oakmont, Pennsylvania, Paula Creamer will take a three-shot lead over Wendy Ward into the final day of play at the US Women’s Open.

Creamer, considered the best LPGA golfer without a major title, is 1 under for the tournament through 13 holes of the weather-delayed third round. That round will be completed Sunday morning. Four shots back is Suzann Pettersen, who has four holes still to play plus the final round.

Five back are 15-year-old Alexis Thompson, who has completed the third round, Amy Yang and Brittany Lang.

Creamer, who recently returned from a four-month layoff following left thumb surgery, played all but two holes of her second-round 70 during the morning.
 

In Silvis, Illinois, Steve Stricker broke the PGA Tour’s 54-hole record with a 9-under-par 62 that gave him a six-stroke lead.

Stricker, the tournament’s defending champion, was at 25-under 188 heading into Sunday’s final round. The old 54-hole record of 189 is shared by John Cook, Mark Calcavecchia and Tommy Armour III.

Stricker can now take aim at Armour’s 72-hole record of 254. Stricker needs a 65 to set the new mark.

Paul Goydos, who shot just the fourth 59 in tour history in Thursday’s first round, was tied with Jeff Maggert for second at 194. Maggert shot a 63 on Saturday and Goydos a 67.