Tiger Woods falls just short at the Open Championship; Francesco Molinari wins

Francesco Molinari of Italy beats out Tiger Woods for the Open Championship. (AP)

Francesco Molinari won the British Open on Sunday, giving him his first major title after emerging from a crowded pack including Tiger Woods in a wild final round at Carnoustie.

Molinari shot a bogey-free, 2-under 69 to finish on 8-under 276. He became the first Italian to capture a major championship.

Earlier, Tiger Woods played himself into contention, edging to within a stroke of the lead on the front nine.

Woods led briefly, but dropped out of the lead after a double-bogey at the 11th hole.

He sent his second shot into the gallery, with the ball rebounding out into the rough. He duffed his chip, then three-putted from off the green.

Tiger Woods fell short during the final round for the 147th British Open Golf championships in Carnoustie, Scotland. (AP)

Woods, who was chasing his first major championship win in a decade, began the day four shots off the lead held by Schauffele, Spieth and Kisner. But while they were all over par on the front nine, he made birdie on No. 4 and then added another on the par-5 sixth.

Large crowds were following the 42-year-old Woods, who has yet to win in his latest comeback. He shot 66 in the third round to make a move up the leaderboard.

Earlier, Kevin Kisner dropped out of the lead at the British Open after a double bogey and a bogey in his first three holes.

Kisner, who has led or been tied for the lead after all three rounds, found a bunker off the tee at the par-4 second hole and made a 6. Then he missed a 4-footer for par at No. 3.

Molinari became the first Italian to capture a major championship. (AP)

In fact, there were dropped shots everywhere early in the final round at Carnoustie, where the wind is playing havoc.

Rory McIlroy bogeyed two of his first five holes and is now 3 under, six shots off the lead, while Tommy Fleetwood bogeyed No. 5 to give up the stroke he picked up at the first before making double-bogey at No. 6.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.