Home country hero Francesco Molinari will aim to follow in the footsteps of the great Flory Van Donck when he attempts to successfully defend the Telecom Italia Open title this week - the only difference being he has not had to wait nine years to undertake the feat!
The legendary Belgian golfer was the last player to win one of the most prestigious titles in continental Europe back-to-back but his victories came in 1938 and 1947, the intervention of World War II putting paid to any championship golf in the interim years.
But now, after a mere hiatus of 12 months, Molinari will return to the majestic Castello di Tolcinasco Golf and Country Club where, last year, he sent Italian golfing fans into raptures of delight with four excellent rounds in the 60s – including a final round 65 – to win by four shots from Anders Hansen and Jarmo Sandelin to become the first home winner of the title since Massimo Mannelli in 1980.
“It was fantastic last year because I don’t think the crowd really expected an Italian golfer to win,” he said. “Because of that, they went crazy over the last few holes – it was more like a football match.”
Francesco has taken on the mantle of headlining Italian golf on The European Tour from Costantino Rocca and will be aided in his quest by his elder brother Edoardo, who will play in the event as a professional for the first time, having competed as an amateur in previous years.
Edoardo, who missed the cut last season, will be hopeful of making a bigger impression this time round and certainly his superb form on the European Challenge Tour – where victories in the Club Columbia Masters and the Tusker Kenya Open already this season see him sit proudly at Number One on the Rankings – suggests he has every chance.
Indeed, the brothers are hopeful that their intriguing sibling rivalry can provide the catalyst for a successful era for Italian golf and there is a genuine belief that the duo can pick up the mantle carried by Rocca who won five time on The European Tour International Schedule and, to date, is the only Italian golfer to have participated in The Ryder Cup.
“We are starting to get some attention now and I think golf is growing in Italy,” said 24 year old Francesco. “Hopefully we can keep winning and let the people enjoy watching us play – that is our task.”
Edoardo (26) echoed the sentiments of his younger brother. “Obviously it is good for Italian golf to have two brothers competing at a high level,” he said. “We only really had Rocca and Emanuele Canonica in the past so I hope Francesco and I can help the game to develop further in our country.
“Francesco and I haven’t done anything yet compared to what Constantino achieved but we are still young and there is plenty time ahead for us.”
Outside the home challengers, a strong international field has assembled for the 64th staging of the event which was due to feature two men who were at the epicentre of world golfing drama last September in Ireland as Captains of the respective European and United States Ryder Cup Teams: Ian Woosnam and Tom Lehman.
Sadly, Woosnam has been forced to withdraw from one of his favourite tournaments due to the virus which also caused him to miss last week's Open de Espana in Madrid, expressing concern that he "can't even walk properly". However Lehman is a confirmed starter in his first Telecom Italia Open and he will be joined in Italy by fellow Americans Duffy Waldorf and Steve Jones, the winner of the 1996 US Open Championship at Oakland Hills where he relegated Lehman to second place.
South African Charl Schwartzel, who completed his second European Tour International Schedule victory in last week’s Open de España, will bid for a quick-fire double in Italy. The 22 year old from Johannesburg is now sixth on the Order of Merit, having moved up from 18th.
All competitors will compete for a record prize fund of €1,700,000. The 2007 total represents an increase of €300,000 on the 2006 figure and will feature a first prize of €283,330, €50,000 more than the cheque pocketed by Francesco Molinari.
