FINAL ROUND LEADERBOARD
-29 Italy -28 Sweden, Ireland -26 England -22 Japan
Selected others: -21 Australia -20 Wales, South Africa -7 Spain**-4** Scotland
**Edoardo and Francesco Molinari held off Ireland and Sweden on a thrilling final day to secure Italy’s first victory in the World Cup of Golf in China.**The brothers had started the day one shot behind Ireland’s Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell but four birdies in five holes around the turn were vital.
Italy were one ahead of Ireland and Sweden after 17 but despite finding sand, they rescued a decisive par.
England carded a 64 to finish on 26 under, three shots behind the winners.
Italy were three behind Ireland at the 8th tee but while McIlroy and McDowell dropped shots at that hole and the 10th, the Molinari brothers started to make their move.
They birdied the 9th and the 11th before younger brother Francesco sunk a monster 30-foot putt at the par-four 12th to put them a shot clear.
Francesco had another birdie putt at 13 to extend the advantage but that was reduced when Ireland birdied the 15th.
In the group ahead, the Swedish pairing of Henrik Stenson and Robert Karlsson, who won the title last year, dropped their first shot of the tournament at the 8th but four birdies gave them the clubhouse lead of 28 under.
And while they nervously waited in the scorers hut, Italy came up the last knowing that par would probably be enough for victory.
But that was placed in doubt when Edoardo fired his approach into a greenside bunker while McIlroy put his on the green.
Francesco’s bunker shot was sublime, however, and after McDowell’s birdie putt stopped just short, Edoardo was left with a three-foot tap-in to secure a famous win.
“It’s been a tough day and we have been playing against some of the best golfers in the world. It was really tough until the last, but it feels even better when it is like that,” said Francesco.
"It’s really great for Italy. I think we deserved it as we attacked from the first day with every putt and every shot and we tried to make as many birdies as possible.
"I was lucky to hole two big putts on 12 and 13 which were probably the key moment and we just had to hang in there and hope for the best.
The English duo of Ian Poulter and Ross Fisher had started the final round foursomes eight shots adrift but they fired eight birdied to move up the leaderboard.
More to follow.