Three straight birdies on the back nine from Francesco Molinari helped Italy win their first ever Omega Mission Hills World Cup and repel the challenge of the more-fancied Ireland and Sweden.

An impressive third-round 61 from Molinari and older brother Edoardo had moved Italy to within one stroke of Ireland heading into the closing 18 holes.

This lead had initially been extended on day four of the 28-team event, but as Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell struggled for birdies late on, Italy powered through.

After holing two lengthy putts, Francesco then played a delicious bunker shot on the final hole, which was holed by Edoardo to seal the one-stroke triumph.

Edoardo said: "I think for us to win this week was obviously a dream of ours and to win only by one shot I think is even more sweet than in other ways.

"For the last putt, I didn't want to miss it. And when I saw the ball going in, it was the sweetest feeling on earth."

Ireland could only a card a disappointing 70 to finish on 28 under for the golf tournament, which was level with defending champions Robert Karlsson and Henrik Stenson of Sweden.

However, Italy's winning score of 29 under is still seven adrift of the record held by Japanese pair Toshimitsu Izawa and Shigeki Maruyama when they won the golf event in 2002.