Molinari: If not me, Fleetwood must win
Leader Molinari won’t get mad if Englishman friend nicks Race to Dubai
Francesco Molinari said his memories of 2018 involve so much of Tommy Fleetwood that if the latter beats him to the Race to Dubai at this week’s seasonending DP World Tour Championship, it would be impossible to get angry.
The star Ryder Cup pair, who won all four of their matches together to beat America in Paris in September, are separated by a million points heading into the final event of the European Tour season at Jumeirah Golf Estates from today to Sunday.
Last year’s Race to Dubai winner Fleetwood can still overtake Molinari for his second title however, provided the Englishman wins the tournament and the Italian finishes below fifth.
“If I don’t win, I’d rather see him win than anyone else,” the Order of Merit leader said about Fleetwood.
“We really are good friends and he’s had an amazing season. To think that he won [the Race to Dubai] last year, and to come here, still with a chance to win two in a row, is incredible, so fair play to him.
“What I can say for me is that it’s been a great season and however it goes this week, I’m still going to have lots of great memories from all that I’ve done this year, and probably the best memory is what we’ve done together in France. I can’t really be mad at him, even if he wins.”
This amicability would extend even today when both players tee-off together, with Molinari adding that it would be difficult to employ cold-shoulder tactics.
‘Focus on my game’
“We’re too friendly, and it’s Thursday anyway, so it’s early. I’m sure we’re going to have fun, like any time we’re paired together.
“All I can do is focus on my game and try to do as good as I can. I don’t know if that’s going to be winning the tournament or finishing Top-20, whatever it is I need to do my best.
“I’m not the kind of guy to show up at an event thinking I want to win. My mental process is more showing up and thinking ■ I need to do this to play well, and I need to play shot by shot and round by round.
“I don’t usually get too far ahead of myself. So in that way, on Thursday morning, nothing is going to be different. I need to go out and play my best and hopefully on Sunday, I’ll be leading or in with a chance.
“But if not, I’ll still go out Sunday morning and do my best and if Tommy wins, obviously, you know, fair play to him. He’s had a great season so far, and to win here would make him the deserving winner of the Race to Dubai.”
This season Molinari got two wins — including his first Major, the Open Championship, with four top six finishes overall from 11 appearances on tour. Fleetwood won in Abu Dhabi and got eight top 10s from 18 appearances.
“It would mean a lot,” added Molinari of winning the Race to Dubai. “Because it’s a year-long race, which makes it a lot harder to win. You can have the best week of your life and win one tournament, but to win a competition that lasts throughout the season, with the amount of talent there is right now on the European Tour, is something really hard to do. I still have to figure out how I’m in this position.”
I don’t usually get too far ahead of myself. So that way, on Thursday morning, nothing is going to be different.” Francesco Molinari » Order of Merit leader