It’s a Moliwood sequel as the Race to Dubai hots up

As a measure of how far European golf has come, there could be no more appropriate venue than Walton Heath this week as the Ryder Cup golfers keep their celebratory vibe going at the sky sports British Masters.

It was at the wondrous surrey course in the 1981 Ryder Cup that matters came to a head after the home side were given their usual 18.5-9.5 pasting and some wondered whether the contest had any future. It led to the appointment of Tony Jacklin as captain, which would change everything.

Now it is Europe who are hammering the Americans and record crowds are expected to toast some of the leading characters who helped make it happen in Paris, including the Moliwood boys, Frankie and Tommy.

Yes, we know it’s supposed to be a random draw for the first two rounds on Thursday and Friday, but I’m going to go out on a limb and suggest the chances of Open champion Francesco Molinari and his partner Tommy Fleetwood walking the fairways together are pretty good.

Do you think they might reminisce a little about their long weekend when they became the first European partnership to win four matches out of four? When Molinari went on to win his singles and become the first to deliver a perfect five points?

It won’t all be lovey-dovey, mind. Now it’s back to the day job, where they’re standing first and second as the Race to Dubai enters the home straight.

While Molinari has a comfortablelooking lead, it’s safe to assume Fleetwood won’t want to relinquish his title without a fight, even if it is to one of his best pals.

The tournament is being hosted by Justin Rose, whose cup has overflowed since celebrating 20 years as a pro in July. Not for Rose a sense of resting on his laurels.

since then, he has become world No 1 for the first time, won £7.6million for the FedEx Cup and played his usual sterling role in another Ryder Cup success. Now comes this singular honour and no British pro deserves it more.

Also present this week will be the two Danes who look upon London as their first home — the gutsy Thorbjorn Olesen, who wiped the floor with Jordan spieth in the singles, and victorious captain Thomas Bjorn.

No doubt a serious golf tournament will break out come the weekend, and particularly for those players at the wrong end of the Race to Dubai who have just two tournaments left to save their tour cards for next year.

But over the first half of the event at least, the watching thousands will surely be doing so with fond memories of Paris still fresh, and the sort of result that was inconceivable back in the days when the Ryder Cup was staged at Walton Heath.