Golf: Kiwi pundit Frank Nobilo correctly predicted Francesco Molinari to win The Open

Francesco Molinari is the first Italian to win The Open Championship. Photo / Getty Images

Kiwi golfing pundit Frank Nobilo took a statistical approach to predicting a winner of The Open.

Looking at the average age and world ranking of the past six champions, Nobilo found the winner at Carnoustie would likely be 35 years old and ranked around 14th in the world.

Only one man fit that profile.

"Francesco Molinari, who has won on both sides of the Atlantic," Nobilo proclaimed before the start of the tournament on The Golf Channel.

"He fits the bill...since 2003, no one has hit more fairways in an Open championship than Molinari."

The 35-year-old Molinari, ranked No15 in the world leading into the event, took out the event thanks to a two-under 69 in his final round.

The Italian jumped four spots on the leaderboard in the final day's play, winning by two shots ahead of England's Justin Rose, Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy and American duo Kevin Kisner and Xander Schauffele.

In claiming the win, Molinari became the first Italian player to hoist the Claret Jug.

American Jordan Spieth, who led the field heading into the final round, saw his hopes of claiming the Open capitulate as he struggled to a final round score of 76 - five over par, to finish the tournament in a three-way tie for ninth place.

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