Molinari targets home success in Italian Open
Home favourite Francesco Molinari carded a second round 67 to grab a share of the lead on nineunder-par at the Italian Open on Friday.
The Turin-born 30-year-old, a winner of the event in 2006, headed into the third round overnight on top of the leaderboard alongside Chile’s Felipe Aguilar and Simon Thornton of Ireland.
‘‘I said at the beginning of the week I didn’t want to think of anything but try to enjoy the week, try to make some birdies and I’ll try to do the same Saturday and Sunday,’’ Molinari said.
‘‘It doesn’t really matter that I won before, this is a special, special week for me. I was emotional yesterday [Thursday] on the tenth tee at 8am with only 50 people watching so now with all these people on my course it’s a great feeling.
‘‘It has been brilliant so far so let’s hope it continues to stay that way over the weekend. You have to embrace it, have fun; I smile on the course when I see people I know and I know they are rooting for me so I just try to enjoy it.’’
One shot off the leading trio is Molinari’s Ryder Cup team-mate Nicolas Colsaerts who bogeyed the 16th and 18th to return a 71, Ireland’s David Higgins and England’s Steve Webster
‘‘It’s always tough to follow a day of prime striking,’’ said Colsaerts, who shot 65 on Thursday to share the lead overnight. ‘‘I missed only one green yesterday and everything was going my way pretty much.
‘‘Then I started with a bogey today with a seven iron in my hand so that doesn’t really get you in the greatest of moods.’’
Former Ryder Cup Captain Jose Maria Olazabal, whose last European Tour win came in the Mallorca Classic eight years ago, is four off the lead on five under after adding a 68 to his opening 71 to sit fiveunder-par.