Francesco Molinari carded back-to-back 67s at the 2026 Open Championship to sit tied for eighth at 4-under par after two rounds at Royal Birkdale. The 43-year-old Italian, who won the Open in 2018 at Carnoustie, has shown glimpses of vintage form through the opening 36 holes, positioning himself within striking distance of leaders Lucas Herbert and a crowded leaderboard.
Molinari’s consistent scoring marks a notable return to contention for the 2018 Open Champion. The Italian mixed three birdies with a bogey-free performance in the second round, demonstrating the precision that defined his major championship victory eight years ago. His back-to-back rounds of 3-under represent the kind of steady golf required to mount a serious challenge at a major championship.
The leaderboard at Royal Birkdale remains tightly bunched, with Herbert leading at 8-under after shooting a historic 62 in round two—tying a major championship scoring record. Molinari sits eight shots back alongside Scottie Scheffler, Tommy Fleetwood, Jon Rahm, Matt Wallace, Bud Cauley, Thomas Detry, and Robert MacIntyre, all at 4-under. The tournament, now at the midway point, sets up a competitive final 36 holes with multiple players in contention.
Molinari’s presence near the top of the leaderboard comes after years in which he struggled to recapture the form that made him one of Europe’s most consistent performers. According to Golf Channel, Molinari, now 43, has limited his schedule to just his 10th start in 2026, suggesting a more selective approach to his playing calendar. His 2018 victory at Carnoustie, where he defeated Tiger Woods by three strokes in the final round, remains his sole major championship triumph and the first major won by an Italian professional golfer.
Sources
- USA Today — Round 2 leaderboard, Molinari’s position and score
- Wikipedia — Molinari’s T8 position and round scores (67-69=136)
- Golf Channel — Molinari’s age (43) and 2026 tournament starts
- Yahoo Sports — Molinari’s 2018 Open Championship victory and pairing with Tiger Woods
- The Open — Molinari’s Carnoustie win as first Italian major champion
