CARNOUSTIE, Scotland (AP) — There is nothing flashy about Francesco Molinari except for the players he keeps beating.

He was a forgotten figure when he teed off in the final round of the British Open, mainly because he was playing with Tiger Woods, and because of the star power around him. Jordan Spieth was tied for the lead. Rory McIlroy was one shot behind Molinari.

“If someone was expecting a charge, they probably weren’t expecting it from me,” he said. “But it’s been the same the whole of my career.”

His name etched into the silver claret jug should help with that.

Now that’s flashy.

And it wasn’t an accident. The 35-year-old Italian was the hottest player in golf in the two months leading up to the British Open with two victories and two runner-up finishes. All he did at the BMW PGA Championship was go head-to-head with McIlroy in the final round and beat him by two. A month later, he shot 62 in the final round to win the Quicken Loans National, with tournament host Woods finishing fourth and presenting Molinari the trophy.

Carnoustie tempered some of that confidence.

Reputed to be the toughest links in golf, especially in the 20 mph gusts that finally arrived Sunday, Molinari stopped playing the Dunhill Links Championship because that one stop on the three-course rotation ate him up.