There has arguably never been a better time for Italian golf than now.
Three players are reigning European Tour champions - the same three who are in the top 35 on the Official World Golf Ranking - and the nation’s courses are continuing to provide excellent venues on The European and Challenge Tours.
The Molinari brothers, Edoardo and Francesco, and teenager Matteo Manassero have put Italian golf back on the map in the last few years, and their success is inspiring their compatriots to follow in their footsteps.
Edoardo Molinari has made spectacular progress in the last two years, going from Challenge Tour Rankings winner in 2009 to two-time European Tour winner last season – at the Barclays Scottish Open and the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles – while his younger brother has plotted a steadier route to the top, his finest victory coming in last year’s WGC-HSBC Champions.
The siblings took Italy to World Cup glory in 2009, and their successes last year culminated in them playing a part in Europe’s Ryder Cup win at The Celtic Manor Resort. Currently Francesco is ranked 22nd in the world and Edoardo 34th.
Manassero’s ascent has been even more astronomic, given that he won twice on The European Tour before his 18th birthday earlier this year, has broken so many records and is ranked World Number 29 at such a tender age.
The trio are providing the perfect motivation for an up-and-coming crop of young Italians, such as Andrea Perrino, Andrea Pavan, Matteo Delpodio and Federico Colombo, all of whom have been producing some fine performances of late.
That group, with the exception of Colombo, are contesting the Acaya Open on home soil this week, and Pavan in particular has been tipped as one to watch - his 23rd place finish in last month’s BMW Italian Open underlined that.
But it is not just down to the Molinaris and Manassero that Italian golf is thriving. The Italian Golf Federation has invested heavily in the development of young players and the staging of tournaments, and their hard work is bearing fruit.
Under the Italian Pro Tour banner, there are four Italian events on the Challenge Tour this season, five on the Alps Tour and one on The European Tour – the BMW Italian Open.
Alessandro Rogato, Director of the Italian Pro Tour, said: “The main goal of the Italian Golf Federation is to help the young professionals and give them the opportunities to play. We want to give strong support and a good level of organisation.
“Our logistics are the same on the Alps Tour and the Challenge Tour and The European Tour. It doesn’t matter what level it is, we try to give the players the best organisation we can.
“Those players who don’t have a great category, we have a campaign to help them get the chance to play through invitations.
“Of course, the success of the Molinaris and Matteo have inspired others. Manassero in particular, because he has played in all the big tournaments on The European Tour and has won twice already. Others look at him and they think if he can do it so can they. It gives them confidence and the belief they can fulfil their dream.
“Over the last six or seven years I have seen a big change in the professionalism of the young players. They are training harder, paying more attention to fitness and nutrition and they work hard all through the winter.”
