The World Number 20 shared a lot, from the rise of Italian golf to his travel essentials, from a funny story of hearing that his brother won on Tour to why he supports a different football team from the rest of his family.
So far 2017 has been a good season. I finished 2016 in good form and I’ve been able to work hard and keep that form up for the most part this year. Whilst I’ve played a lot in the States, the runner-up finish at Wentworth was probably the highlight of the season so far.
With the BMW PGA being the first Rolex Series event, there was a definite buzz and atmosphere around London that week. The fans, the players, the media, the whole build-up to the event felt bigger than before and I think the Tour have done a great job creating this group of events and marketing them across the year.
Wentworth is always one of my favourite weeks. I get to stay at home, see my family and play one of my favourite courses. The history and atmosphere of the BMW PGA is amazing and it was great to get myself into contention there again. The weather was perfect this year, the crowds were out in force and that’s what we as players want from a big week on the schedule. Obviously, Alex Noren put together one of the rounds of the year but it was great to be back in Europe, playing at Wentworth and playing well.
The disappointing thing this year is that I haven’t played as well as I would have like in the big tournaments, the WGCs and Majors. I feel like I’m playing as well as I ever have but I just need to work on the mental side of things to take that next step. Perhaps I’ve set my expectations too high for those events and that’s made things difficult. At the Masters and The Open I got off to shocking starts and that put me in a tough position right away. Looking forward I need to try and be sharper mentally and prepare in a way that allows me to be fresh entering those big weeks and feel more prepared on the first tee Thursday.
Lots of players nowadays have mental coachesand psychologists but I just like to discuss those things with my team. When I’m working on my swing with Dennis Pugh, my coach, we are always discussing course management and the mental side of things. I also work with Dave Alred, who is more of a performance coach. All in all, I try and trust my instinct and understand personally what is best for my game and what exactly I need to work on.
It’s feels as though Italian golf has been on the rise in recent years. We had a lot of success a few years ago with myself, Edoardo and Matteo but then it perhaps went a little quiet. Now, with the Ryder Cup coming to Rome in 2022, the Italian Open part of the Rolex Series and several promising younger players on Tour, there’s definitely a feeling of momentum in Italian golf.
I can’t wait to get back to the Italian Openthis year, especially as defending champion. It is an event that has so much meaning to me and my family. It was my first win back in 2006 and I think I finished third or fourth the following year. Last year was incredible, finishing the way I did and having so much home support, it really kicked started my season and gave me a lot of confidence late in the year. It’s never easy to defend a title and there will obviously be quite a bit of expectation and pressure on me but I will just try and enjoy the week as much as possible.
Seeing Edoardo win again was really special. It was the week after the Masters and I was playing in Harbour Town but he was over in Morocco. With the time difference, I was able to watch the front nine of his final round and see him get off to a quick start. He was still a few shots back when I had to go play so I wasn’t considering the fact that I might miss seeing him win. On the ninth tee at Harbour Town, a PGA Tour referee came up to me and told me that he had won in a play-off. I couldn’t believe it. It was very strange to be in the middle of a round and hear my brother had won but I was so happy and my thoughts were with him in Morocco. I finished my round, sent him a text and actually got to watch the highlights of his final few holes. I know how hard he has worked, on and off the course, to get back to where he is and it was incredible to see him lift a title again.
I’ve certainly been paying attention to young Renato Paratore as well. I had heard of him as an amateur and I’ve have gotten to know him a little bit since he’s been on Tour. He is a really nice kid and a great talent. He plays the game the right way: he’s quick, he’s always smiling and he plays aggressively. I was at home the week he won in Sweden so I watched quite a lot and it was great to see him get his first win on the European Tour and for Matteo Manassero to be there with him afterwards. Those two are definitely the future of Italian golf.
I get asked a lot about the Ryder Cupand it is definitely on my mind but I’m trying to view it as a consequence of good play, rather than something that overly focus on. Obviously when I put together my schedule I try and pick events I think will give me the best chance to play well and move up in the rankings. That won’t change in 2018. I’m lucky that I’ve played twice already and had unbelievable experiences both in 2010 and 2012. I think it’s different trying to make the team for the first time versus someone who has been there. If you’ve never played, it’s a career goal and a priority throughout the two years to get into the team. For me now, I feel that if I just concentrate on playing good golf week-in-week-out, things will take care of themselves.
I know that some players that don’t make the team find it hard to watch the Ryder Cup but I watched every shot last year in Hazeltine. I don’t understand how you can’t, it is great entertainment. The rivalry, the format, the fans, everything is elevated that week. Obviously, I wish I could have been playing and helping the guys but regardless of the team and the result, the Ryder Cup is the Ryder Cup and it’s must-watch television.
Talking of massive events, we have two big two weeks on the schedule coming up with the WGC Bridgestone and then the PGA Championship. Despite missing the cut at The Open I saw some positive signs in my game and I’m excited to play against in two of the best fields of the year coming up. Firestone is a course where I don’t have the best record but it’s always a place I enjoying coming back to. It’s tight, it’s long and it’s always in immaculate condition. Without a cut after two rounds, it gives you the chance to perhaps be a little more aggressive from the start.
As for the PGA Championship, I think every player gets pumped for the final Major of the year. I played Quail Hollow for the first time last year, it’s a really good course. I know they’ve made a few changes to the front nine, which is surprising because it was such a good course already so I’ll be interested to see how it’s set up next week. I think it is a course that could suit my game. You need to play well from tee-to-green and you don’t get away with too many loose shots. If I stick to what I do well hopefully I can get myself into contention there.
I do a lot of travelling with my job. I’ve just flown from London to Ohio this week and we do take a lot of flights as professional golfers. Lots of players like to catch up on boxsets or films on the plane but I try to use the time to recharge as much as possible. Usually I get some sleep and maybe read a book or two but mainly I’m trying to rest and take prepare myself the next week. Someone asked me what my essentials are when traveling and I said two things: a good book and a good pair of headphones. If I have both of those, I don’t mind how long the flight is, I’ll be ok.
Away from the course, I love getting back to London, spending time with my kids and watching sports. My oldest son is at school now and plays football so it’s great to be around them and take my mind off golf. We like to hang out with friends a lot and cook or have a barbeque and if I’m on my own, I’ll probably be watching some sort of sport. Whether it’s golf, football, Formula One or rugby, I really enjoy watching sport on television and seeing how different athletes compete at the top level.
Inter Milan is my team, I’ve followed them since I was a kid. I think it was probably the colours of the shirt and the great players of the 90s that attracted me initially but when I was at university in Turin there was a bus to the game each weekend and we would get on that in the morning, drive to Milan, watch the game and then come home. Those were amazing days with all the other fans and whilst I don’t get to as many games today, I still keep in touch with how they are doing. Edoardo and the rest of my family massively support Juventus so it can make for some interesting head-to-head games but I think it’s good to have a little rivalry when watching games.
