Molinari’s happy to chase a major repeat in a minor key
After a few years of the weird and wonderful, when it’s been strapped to a jet- ski courtesy of Henrik Stenson, or the residence of ladybirds (Padraig Harrington), you won’t be too surprised to learn that the Claret Jug has been on a rather more sedate journey these past 12 months in the safe hands of the quiet Italian, francesco Molinari.
Sure, one or two barolos have been drunk from it, and maybe a bottle or two of the tignanello that Boris Johnson raves about. But nothing other than its original purpose for the jug this time. Molinari is a man who likes to visit museums, and he has enjoyed looking fondly at the piece of sporting treasure that has adorned his London home for the past year.
And what a year. Some Champion Golfers struggle to cope with the aftermath of that moment on the 18th green when they’re so announced. Molinari went from Carnoustie to Paris without a break in his imperious stride, becoming a ryder Cup folk hero as the first european ever to win five matches out of five. In March, he won Arnold Palmer’s tournament at Bay Hill with one of the great final rounds of the year.
In April, it looked like a green jacket would be hanging next to the Claret Jug, until a late collapse at Augusta let in tiger Woods to author the sports story of the year.
Molinari has done it all without becoming too high-profile, still able to walk the streets of the capital without drawing attention. Which is just how he likes it, of course.
‘Maybe part of it is my personality, and not caring about being in the spotlight,’ he said. ‘Part of it is being Italian. An American or British player winning the Open is going to get more attention.
‘Of course, I’ve had my moments. I loved it when I walked through the station in Paris after the ryder Cup and everyone stopped what they were doing to applaud. those things you cherish and never forget. But it can be good when there is less pressure from the outside. I don’t mind it at all.’ It’s in keeping with that belief that rather than play in Ireland and Scotland these past two weeks on a final lap of honour, he’s been practising at the Wisley club in Surrey.
‘I know that going into the Open as the defending champion will be a different experience, and I wanted to save as much energy as possible,’ he explained. ‘ I’ve played enough links golf by now to know what’s in store with the bounce of the ball and the weather.
‘I played with Darren Clarke at the Irish Open at Portrush in 2012, and the atmosphere was incredible. I want to use the energy of the crowd this time, like I did at the Open last year and the ryder Cup. It’s not something which comes naturally to me, but it can be an enormous help.’
Molinari’s form has dipped since the disappointment of missing out on the Masters. It was a tournament that was his to win or lose, and it duly proved the latter when he found the water twice on the back nine at Augusta, after being virtually fault-free to that point.
Did the fact he still had the Claret Jug to gaze upon lessen the pain? Interestingly, Molinari thinks the opposite. ‘I’d proved to myself that I could win a major, so for me it made the disappointment a little bigger that I wasn’t able to close it out,’ he confessed. ‘In sport, it’s never easy to take a loss like that, and it did linger. But we’ve analysed it enough, it’s time
to move on and put myself in a position to do better.’
Despite the pressure of being the defending champion, Molinari will deservedly start as one of the favourites at a Portrush course that plays to all his strengths. It’s 20 years now since he got his first experience of golf beside the sea when he competed at the Links Trophy at St Andrews.
‘Wow, what an experience that was!’ said the 36-yearold. ‘It was a huge shock coming from Italy. Turin is one of the most protected places from the wind, being surrounded by the Alps, so I wasn’t exposed to that side of the game growing up. Suddenly, you’re at the Home of Golf and you’ve got to cope with 25mph winds. It was tough at first, but I’ve learned. My love of links golf has grown a lot.’
He certainly showed what he’s learned last year, under the tutelage of his three English coaches — Denis Pugh (long game), Phil Kenyon (putting) and Dave Alred (mental approach).
Completing the final 36 holes at Carnoustie without a bogey, he pulled away from Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose. ‘To be honest, things are not quite as good as they were that week,’ he said. ‘But improvement is not a straight line. I’m getting there. So, let’s see what happens. I’ve enjoyed being the face of the Open and maybe it’s not over yet.’