Played as the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard (March 7-10). Second-placed Matt Fitzpatrick (Eng) finished 2 shots behind Molinari (Italy), who recorded his third PGA Tour win, all of them coming in his last 12 starts on the Tour. [Bay Hill Club, Orlando, FL].

Played as the BMW PGA Championship (May 24-27; first of eight Eurpn Tr Rolex Series events, with prize fund now in US dollars). Second-placed Rory McIlroy (N.Ire) finished 2 shots behind Molinari (Italy), who recorded his fifth European Tour win. [West course, Wentworth Club, Virginia Water, Surrey].

Francesco Molinari (Italy) won the 2018 Seve Ballesteros Award as the European Tour Players' Player of the Year Award, based on the votes of his peers.

Played as the Quicken Loans National (Jun 28-Jul 1). Second-placed Ryan Armour (USA) finished 8 shots behind first-time PGA Tour winner Molinari (Italy). Molinari shot a final round 8-under-par 62 to become the first Italian golfer since Toney Penna in 1947 to win a PGA Tour event. [TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm, Potomac, nr Washington DC].

Molinari (Italy) received the Harry Vardon Trophy and a US$1,250,000 bonus as the European Tour 2018 Order of Merit (Race to Dubai) winner. He accumulated 6,041,521 points during the season (points equate to euros won, with Eurpn Tr winnings paid in $ or £ converted to euros). Second was Patrick Reed (USA) with 4,713,351 pts, plus bonus of $750,000. Third was Tommy Fleetwood (Eng) with 4,399,755 pts, plus bonus of $600,000.

Molinari (Italy) won the Hilton European Tour Golfer of the Year Award, determined by a panel of representatives from the European Tour and golfing media.

The Open Championship (147th) (July 19-22). Second-placed Justin Rose (Eng), Rory McIlroy (N.Ire), Kevin Kisner (USA) and Xander Schauffele (USA) finished 2 shots behind 35-year-old Molinari (Italy), who recorded his first major championship win. [Championship Course, Carnoustie Golf Links, Angus].

Played as the Open d'Italia (Sept 15-18). Second-placed Danny Willett (Eng) finished 1 shot behind Molinari (Italy), who won his national open title for the second time. [Milano GC, Villasanta, Monza, nr Milan].

Played as the Reale Seguros Open de España (May 3-6). Second-placed Alejandro Cañizares (Esp), Pablo Larrazábal (Esp) and Søren Kjeldsen (Den) finished 3 shots behind Molinari (Italy). [Real (Royal) GC, Sevilla, Andalucia].

Played as the WGC-HSBC Champions (Nov 4-7; co-sanctioned by world's leading mens professional tours). Second-placed Lee Westwood (Eng) finished 1 shot behind wire-to-wire winner Molinari (Italy). [Sheshan Intl GC, Shanghai, China].

Played as the Telecom Italia Open (May 4-7). Second-placed Anders Hansen (Den) and Jarmo Sandelin (Swe) finished 4 shots behind first-time European Tour winner Molinari (Italy), the first home-country winner of the Italian Open since 1980. [Castello Tolcinasco GC, Pieve Emanuele, nr Milan].