Guido Migliozzi admits competing at this year’s Ryder Cup on home soil would be “more than a dream” as he looks to offer a timely reminder of his credentials at the DS Automobiles Italian Open.
The DP World Tour returns to mainland Europe this week for the 80th anniversary of Italy’s national Open, with plenty of focus at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club on the hopefuls looking to play their way into Luke Donald’s team.
Since securing his DP World Tour card for 2019 at the Qualifying School, Migliozzi has proven to be one of European golf’s great young talents and claimed his third and most recent Tour title at last year’s Cazoo Open de France at Le Golf National.
The 26-year-old would become the fourth Italian to play at the Ryder Cup after Constantino Rocca, and Francesco and Edoardo Molinari if he features this September.
“It is a dream to compete at a Ryder Cup once in a lifetime but to have a chance to compete in a Ryder Cup in Italy is more than a dream,” he said.
“It is something that you cannot imagine so I will do my best to be a part of it.
The year-long qualification period to make the European Ryder Cup team will end at the Omega European Masters, with Migliozzi conscious there is a big stretch of upcoming events where he can impress.
“There is nothing more important than having a great week here where the Ryder Cup will be but there is not just this week,” he added.
“From here to September there are so many tournaments so of course we want to score [points] here but not forgetting that it is a race to the Ryder Cup and there is not only this tournament but we will try to do our best.”
Migliozzi comes into his home open off the back of two encouraging performances in the Far East, recording a fantastic closing 63 last week in South Korea to finish in a tie for 14th.
That is his best result of the season so far and combined with the knowledge he will be playing in front of home crowds, he is excited about the week ahead.
“We are at home,” he said. “It is the course of the Ryder Cup. We can see walking on the course the grandstands around the holes.
“There are good feelings, there is a big goal there and we are all trying to be part of the team.”
Another Italian who has been eagerly anticipating playing again on home soil is Edoardo Molinari, who is this week making his 23rd appearance at this his national Open.
The 42-year-old will play alongside his fellow Ryder Cup vice captains Nicolas Colsaerts and Thomas Bjørn over the first two rounds as he makes his first appearance on Tour since the Magical Kenya Open Presented by Absa in March.
“It was Thomas’ idea to be honest,” he said. “I think it is a great idea. I think you don’t want to put too much pressure on the guys playing.
“You just want to let them get on and do their thing this week and see how it plays out.
“We will have a lot of discussions, go to dinner a couple of times and talk about players, possible pairings already and course set-up so there are a lot of things going on behind the scenes.”
Five months out from the Ryder Cup, Molinari is already impressed with how preparations on the course are progressing with the first tee grandstand expected to have a capacity of 5,000 fans when completed – although it has to remain empty this week.
“I played [at the Ryder Cup] in 2010 but the grandstand on the tee was nowhere near this one and this is only part of it, it is not finished yet so once all the infrastructure will be in place it will be unbelievable and difficult to recognise this place,” he said.
