SIBLING RIVALRIES

THE MOLINARI BROTHERS

One of the most enduring moments of the 2010 Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor was brothers Edoardo and Francesco being greeted by the tune of “there’s only two Molinaris!”on the first tee. Their careers have gone in different directions since then. Edoardo, the senior by 21 months, has struggled for form and fitness, while

Francesco won the 2018 Open and formed one half of the Moliwood partnership with Tommy Fleetwood at the Ryder Cup in Paris. The two are likely to be reunited again in Rome this year. Edoardo will be one of Luke Donald’s vice-captains, while Francesco is playing his way into form and could snatch a captain’s pick because of his experience.

THE KORDA SISTERS

Jessica and Nelly come from a family of sporting superstars. Their parents Petr and Regina are former tennis pros (Petr won the 1998 Australian Open), while their brother Sebastian is an up-andcoming star on the ATP Tour. At 29, Jess is five years older than sibling Nelly and they’ve shared 13 LPGA Tour wins, though it’s the younger Korda who has seized most of the limelight: She has two more tour victories, has won a Major (2021 Women’s PGA) and struck gold in the 2020 Olympics. She’s also the current World No.2 and first name on the USA team sheet ahead of the Solheim Cup.

THE FITZPATRICK BROTHERS

Coach Pete Cowen once told us that of the two Fitzpatrick brothers, Alex had the most potential. He represented GB&I in two Walker Cups and turned pro just two weeks before watching his big brother win his first Major at Brookline; the same site of Matt’s 2013 US Amateur victory with Alex on the bag. The younger brother has got a lot to live up to, but he’s already made a big statement by reportedly rejecting a US$2.4 million bid to join LIV Golf. He’s now splitting his time between America and the DP World Tour, where he’s bagged two top 15s in his first five starts. Matt, on the other hand, just missed out on beating Rory to the Race to Dubai last season.