Molinari proud of road to Rome

Francesco Molinari return to Olgiata Golf Club for the first time after 17 years this week.

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Francesco Molinari (Getty Images)

Oct 09, 2019: Francesco Molinari and the Italian Open return to Olgiata Golf Club for the first time 17 years this week and it is safe to say a lot has changed for both player and event since 2002.

Italy’s national open is now part of the prestigious Rolex Series, bringing a prize fund of US$7million and a world class field to the outskirts of the capital that includes World Number Five Justin Rose, Open Champion Shane Lowry, Ryder Cup star Paul Casey and BMW PGA champion Danny Willett.

When Ian Poulter lifted the trophy in 2002 at Olgiata, Molinari was still an amateur, making his first European Tour cut five days short of his 20th birthday, before going on to win his home open in 2006 for a first European Tour victory.

A Ryder Cup debut and World Golf Championships victory would come in 2010, as well as a second Italian Open title in 2016, but even those successes could not prepare him for the glorious summer of 2018.

A first Rolex Series victory at the BMW PGA Championship and a Major triumph at The Open helped him win the Race to Dubai, while he also became the first European to take five points from five as the Ryder Cup was regained in Paris.

Rose last played the Italian Open in 2002 and with two Rolex Series titles at the Turkish Airlines Open to his name, a third victory in Rome could provide a platform for a tilt at Race to Dubai glory.

Willett finished third on his Italian Open debut in 2015 and his second placed result in 2016 was his best finish between his Masters Tournament victory and his triumph at the 2018 DP World Tour Championship, Dubai.

European Tour Release