Italy’s Edoardo Molinari has had a very successful couple of seasons on the European Tour since romping clear as Challenge Tour rankings Number One in 2009, and he is back under the spotlight in our fifth instalment of the Challenge Tour Alumni series as we count down to the Apulia San Domenico Grand Final next week.
Having graduated to the Tour for his second full year in 2010, Molinari proved the potential that he had always been praised as having since his US Amateur victory in 2004, winning twice on Scottish soil and most notably winning Italy’s first World Cup alongside his younger brother Francesco.
He will also be remembered for his stunning Sunday display, once again alongside his brother, when he birdied the final three holes to not only take the title at the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, but also claim the final wild card spot in Captain Monty’s 2010 Ryder Cup Team.
Unbelievable achievements for someone returning to the European Tour for only their second full season, and it can no doubt be attributed in part to the stunning year he had on the Challenge Tour in 2009.
European Tour Weekly caught up with him in the midst of this fantastic season, where he would eventually notch 12 top tens in 19 events including three wins at the Piemonte Open, Kazakhstan Open and the Italian Federation Cup, plus a further five top threes.
“I’m very happy with the way I have played so far this year, and up to now I would say I have had a fairly good season,” said a modest Molinari. “I changed a lot of things over the winter, I’ve worked a lot on my swing and now my efforts are bearing fruit. I hope to continue improving and to win again on the Challenge Tour.”
At this stage in the season he had already won once at home, at the Piemonte Open, and it proved a great thrill for the Italian – especially in his home town of Turin.
“It was a great win at home as I’d never played there as a professional before, so to win the first one was incredibly emotional for me.
“It was an advantage as I knew the course but I played very, very well throughout the week and in the end I was able to win by a distance.”
With that win under his belt Molinari could not know the success that would follow, but was confident that what he had learnt to that point would see him fare better on The European Tour in 2010.
“This year has been a great experience for me to take through onto the European Tour as I now understand more or less what it takes to improve and what is required to survive out there.”
And survive he did.
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