SAY GOODBYE TO MOLIWOOD
Bromance of Ryder Cup duo on ice in Dubai as Fleetwood could spoil the Italian’s dream year
It would have to be tommy Fleetwood standing in his way, wouldn’t it? As if fate itself had intervened. Seven weeks on from those memorable events at the Ryder Cup that underlined their bromance, the skinny Scouser is the only man who can stop Frankie Molinari becoming the first Italian to win Europe’s Order of Merit, or the Race to Dubai as it’s now known.
there’s no doubting what it would mean to the popular 36-year-old from turin to join legends like Seve Ballesteros and Bernhard Langer and become just the eighth golfer from continental Europe to etch his name on to the coveted Harry Vardon trophy since it was first contested in 1937.
‘It would mean an awful lot,’ said the Open champion. ‘Whatever happens it would still be an incredible year but there’s something special about winning a race that lasts all year.
there are plenty of golfers who can win a tournament by having a great week but not many who can come out on top at the end of a long season.’
this was the year, of course, when Molinari’s life changed. A long-time resident in London, he used to go to the theatre and art galleries without anyone looking at him twice.
‘It’s a bit different now,’ he said. ‘But you know the British, they’re so polite it’s done in a funny way. they say: “Hi” but then they stop because they don’t want to be seen to be intruding too much. It would be a lot different if we lived in turin.’
As the season reaches its finale here at the DP World tour Championship, you sense the momentous events of the past seven months have begun to sink in. A victory at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth was followed by his first win in America. then he held off tiger Woods, Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy to win the Open, before becoming the first European ever to win five points out of five at the Ryder Cup.
No wonder his concentration has wavered over the past month, as he savoured one of the great seasons by any European but his game face will be back on this week. He badly wants to go out on a high — and that means giving no succour to his best golfing pal.
‘Yes, I’ve done all the sums,’ conceded Molinari. ‘I’m no good at maths but even I can work it out when there’s only one other player involved.
‘It feels incredible to come here leading but now it’s important to complete the dream season.’
With a lead of more than one million points, it might sound like Molinari would need a collapse of Devon Loch proportions to let in Fleetwood. But if the latter continues his love affair with golf in the Middle East and finishes the year like he started in Abu Dhabi with a win, all it would take is for Molinari to finish sixth or worse to lose out.
‘No-one needs to tell me how good tommy is, and I know I have to approach this week in the right way,’ said Molinari.
All eyes will be on the pair shortly after High Noon today, therefore, when they play together in the first round. A poor day for Fleetwood, and Molinari can start to relax. But how many of those does the top-ten machine from Southport have these days?
‘After winning the Race to Dubai last year, if you’d said to me I’d come to the last event and still have a chance to win it again, I’d have taken that,’ said Fleetwood. ‘I’m proud of the way the year has gone.
‘Okay, I’d like to have won again since Abu Dhabi but this is the first full year I’ve played both tours and I feel I’ve coped well. I’ve been a lot more consistent, giving myself plenty of chances and I’ve improved my ranking.
‘With regard to the Race to Dubai, it’s all in Frankie’s hands. It was mine to lose last year but this time I feel I can freewheel a bit, knowing that only a win will do.’
A rivalry over the next four days that is going to be particularly friendly, therefore, with both men echoing the other regarding one aspect.
‘If I don’t win, I’m glad the trophy will be going to him,’ they chorused.