An intriguing subplot to this year’s Race to Dubai is the fraternal battle between the Molinari brothers, Edoardo and Francesco, who currently sit just one place apart in the rankings.
In the eight years that the duo have both competed concurrently on The European Tour, Edoardo has never managed to finish above his baby brother in the money list.
But with just two events left of the 2014 season, the 33 year old – who has now fully recovered from the wrist and thumb injuries which disrupted his last two campaigns – currently holds the upper hand.
Heading into this week’s Turkish Airlines Open by the Ministry of Youth and Sport, just 20,691 points separated the pair in The Race to Dubai, with 31st placed Edoardo having collected 885,329 points over the course of his 29 appearances this term, thanks chiefly to a quintet of top ten finishes – most notably at the Irish Open, where he finished runner-up.
But with ten million points up for grabs in each of the final two tournaments of the 2014 campaign, starting with this week’s US$7 million event and culminating in the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, big brother cannot lay claim the bragging rights just yet.
The closest Edoardo came to usurping his younger brother was during his breakthrough season in 2010, when he won twice en route to finishing in 11th place in The Race to Dubai and qualifying – alongside Francesco – for The Ryder Cup.
Unfortunately for him, Molinari Junior also enjoyed the most successful season of his life, as victory in the money-spinning WGC-HSBC Champions helped him to a career-high finish of fifth place in The Race to Dubai.
But having opened with a round of 67 to Francesco’s 70 in Turkey, Edoardo may never have a better opportunity to ensure he finishes the season as the main man in the Molinari household.
He said: “I’d be lying if I said we didn’t pay a little bit of attention to our positions in The Race to Dubai. There was a little bit of teasing and banter in practice at the start of the week, but I didn’t want to say too much in case he overtakes me. With so many points on offer over these last two events, anything can happen so I guess whoever plays better over the next fortnight is going to finish in front.
“The main priority is that we both play well, but obviously if I finish in front of him at the end of the season, I’ll definitely give him a little bit of stick over the table at Christmas dinner. I definitely use it as a bit of an incentive – it spurs me on to play better and practice harder. I’ve never really thought about it too much before because he’s usually been way ahead of me at this point of the season, so there’s definitely a bit more to play for than usual for me this year.”
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