Francesco Molinari sets Ryder Cup goal with Fleetwood keen on ‘Moliwood’ reunion
The Ryder Cup may well be over a year-and-a-half away, but Europe's title defence on American soil is already in the mind of Italian star Francesco Molinari.
Molinari became a European cult hero during their thumping 2018 victory in Paris, winning all five points on offer during a week to remember. At the time the Italian was one of the world's very best, fresh off the back of his first ever major victory at the Open Championship.
Five years later Europe's return to home soil came in Molinari's homeland, as captain, Luke Donald led his 12-man team to victory at Marco Simone in Rome, winning back the title they had lost in Whistling Straits two years earlier.
READ MORE: Tommy Fleetwood hails Luke Donald’s Ryder Cup recall as Europe move on from LIV stars
On the back of his dazzling display in Paris in 2018, Molinari would have been chomping at the bit to represent his continent in his home nation, but it was not to be. The turn of the decade proved tough for the Italian, as he struggled for form and slipped down the world rankings.
Bubba Watson shares details of horror knee injury ahead of LIV Golf debut
In doing so, he missed out on a place in Padraig Harrington's 2021 Ryder Cup team, and would follow the same fate two years later at home. It was not all bad for the former Open champion, who was given the opportunity to be involved as a vice captain by Donald, alongside his brother Edoardo.
Whilst the opportunity was an amazing one for the Italian, there is no doubt he missed the chance to be competing out on the course. " It was great. Obviously I would have loved to have played at the start of the season but it was great to be involved," he told Mirror Sport at this week's Dubai Desert Classic.
"Luke did an amazing job, apart from the players even for us as vice captains it was straightforward. I was very grateful to be able to be part of the experience.” It was a week to remember for the Europeans as they regained the Ryder Cup in emphatic fashion in the Italian capital.
Francesco and his brother Edoardo acted as vice captains in Rome (Getty Images)A tougher task however now lies ahead, with the small matter of a title defence across the Atlantic coming at Bethpage Black in 2025. Molinari himself described winning the Ryder Cup away from home as 'near impossible', with the last coming thanks to Europe's 2012 Miracle in Medinah triumph - a win the former world No. 5 was apart of.
Having watched from the side in Rome three months ago, Molinari is keen to get himself back in the players' circle come next September, taking inspiration from Europe's last away win 12 years ago. " I would love to [return as a player in 2025], he added.
"I remember in Medinah when I played and Paul Lawrie was in the team. He had some huge success then had a dip in form, but managed to qualify again so it can definitely happen. I will do my best. There is a lot of young talent fortunately coming through in Europe, but why not."
Molinari infamously set up one of the Ryder Cup's great partnerships in 2018 alongside Tommy Fleetwood. 'Moliwood' as they were aptly named, proved unstoppable in France, winning all four of their matches in style on the way to victory for Thomas Bjorn's team.
The pair reunited whilst out on the course during Wednesday's Pro-Am in Dubai, and on the back of Molinari's comeback target, he received the backing of his trusty partner. Asked if he would like to see Molinari return as a player in 2025, Fleetwood responded: "Everybody would.
"We have all thought for a long time they we have a strong group of players in Europe. Then going into the next Ryder Cup you don’t know what is going to happen, you don’t know who is going to play well, golf is tough. But I think Fran with his experience would be amazing to have there as a player."
Fleetwod enjoyed an impressive start to his 2024 season last week, as the Englishman defeated Rory McIlroy by a single shot to win the Dubai Invitational. Molinari meanwhile looked back to his best too, finishing four shots behind his partner in fifth.
Gareth Bale to face Yahoo billionaire as he tees up on PGA Tour for first time
Catching the eye of the champion, Fleetwood said: "He said last week that it is pretty clear that he has one goal in mind. He showed some great golf as well. For sure going to somewhere like Bethpage Black, an away Ryder Cup, I think Fran would be only a gain for whoever he played with."
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
