On a rainy Wednesday ahead of the Senior Italian Open, we caught up with the ‘godfather of Italian golf’—a man who single-handedly inspired two generations of Italian stars—to discuss the week ahead, and the Road to Rome, where the next home Ryder Cup will be played in 2022.
It’s beautiful here at Villaverde Resort. Apart from the weather today, what are your thoughts on this setting?
It’s very nice. The golf course has invested a lot of money to make it very, very nice and right now the weather is not so good, but we’re here and we do our best.
How difficult is it going to be this week with the amount of rain that has fallen in the last six weeks?
My opinion is that I will work hard with the 5-wood I think because it skims on the water (laughs), but the course is becoming much longer, and if it does stop raining tonight, maybe tomorrow the course conditions will be a bit better.
How good is it for you to be playing in your home country?
First of all, to play in Italy is always nice. It’s not easy for me, but the Italian Open is the Italian Open, and to have it at a place like this—I’m very happy to be here.
Three years ago you had a nice chip-in on the 18th hole in front of the home fans, it must be nice to play in front of home crowds.
Yeah and if I chip-in a few times this week I’ll have a good score (laughs). It’s becoming a little bit longer for me now, but I love playing and this is one of the courses where I like to play.
Of course, you’re known as the ‘godfather of Italian golf’, how proud are you of your career and how important is what you’ve achieved with the current boom in Italian golf?
You know, I tried to do my best for myself in my golf, and now, Italian golf with Francesco Molinari— and not just Francesco but other young guys coming through— but Francesco is on his way to becoming the best player in the world. He’s played really good, obviously he won The Open, he played very well in The Ryder Cup and The Masters, and I think you can say we have a good player coming through.
Talking about Francesco, he said that watching you play golf inspired him into golf. You, having played The Ryder Cup three times, have helped The Ryder Cup come to Italy, you must be so proud of that.
For me it’s fantastic. I never supposed The Ryder Cup could come to Italy, and so that for me is very important. I hope everything goes well for The Ryder Cup in 2022. Rome is a big town, and maybe golf in Italy has room to grow, but I think with The Ryder Cup we have a chance to do that, and so we have to take this chance.
In Paris, Francesco owned Tiger Woods, beating him three times alongside Tommy Fleetwood, but you were the original Tiger-beater having defeated him 4&2 in Sunday Singles at The 1997 Ryder Cup.
On one day you can beat Tiger like I did, but what Francesco did, winning those points, I was so proud of him and the entire team. I love Francesco, but maybe not as much as Fleetwood, because that’s not possible (laughs). After the week I felt tired as if I had just played in it, because of all the excitement.
Q. Is it exciting times for you now for the next four years?
Without a doubt. For me The Ryder Cup is always the biggest tournament. The atmosphere is fantastic. Now we have to take this opportunity to improve our facilities and develop great players. That, for me, is very important.
