Augusta: Francesco Molinari still recalls his first experience at the Masters, especially the nerves of trying to pick the right club for the par-three 12th, all while having defending champion Tiger Woods in the same group.
That was 13 years ago. He was caddying for his brother, Edoardo, the US Amateur champion.
“I carried the clubs and prayed that he was going to hit good shots,” Molinari said. “It’s a tough course to caddie around.”
Molinari was on his second year on the European Tour, and he picked up his first victory a month after the Masters. Now he is 36, and while he jokingly refers to himself as “no spring chicken”, the Italian has emerged as one of the threats at Augusta National this week.
He might not look imposing because he lacks the power that garners so much attention in the modern game.
Molinari just plays the best golf.
“Francesco is dangerous, isn’t he?” three-time Masters champion Nick Faldo said.
It didn’t happen overnight, and not without enormous work on his swing and the mental side of the game. The results speak volumes. Since he left Augusta National last year, Molinari won the European flagship event at Wentworth, shot 62 in the final round to win the Quicken Loans National, captured his first major by outplaying Woods at Carnoustie to win the British Open, became the first European to go 5-0 in the Ryder Cup and with the European Tour’s Race To Dubai order of Merit.
If that wasn’t enough, he rallied past the likes to Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational, and only a tough three-putt from above the 18th hole kept him from reaching the final of the Match Play.
He has never finished better than a tie for 19th at Augusta National. He’s never been playing this well, either.
“I’m in a much different position to where I was coming in the last few years. I can’t deny that,” Molinari said. “I feel good about my game — beginning of the week, I think pretty much everyone does. All majors — I think here, Augusta, especially — they are tough tests, and if you are not on your game, you’re going to pay the price for it.”
But confidence comes with results, and Molinari has had plenty of success.
Catch the Masters (Thursday to Sunday) at Augusta National, Georgia
Thursday: First tee-off 4.30pm (UAE)
Selected groups
7.04pm Tiger Woods, Haotong Li, Jon Rahm
7.15pm Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler, Cameron Smith
9.05pm Zach Johnson, Ian Poulter, Matt Kuchar
9.15pm Francesco Molinari, Rafael Cabrera Bello, Tyrrell Hatton
9.27pm Bubba Watson, Patrick Cantlay, Satoshi Kodaira
9.38pm Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Jason Day
9.49pm Phil Mickelson, Justin Rose, Justin Thomas
10pm Jordan Spieth, Paul Casey, Brooks Koepka
- Broadcast on beIN SPORTS
