GOOD GOLLY, MOLI WILL CHASE LOLLY

OPEN champion Francesco Molinari might not play a regular European Tour event until September next season.

The London-based Italian (above) is a contender for the BBC’s World Sports Star Of The Year award tomorrow night after also claiming the Race to Dubai and the winning point at the Ryder Cup.

A revamp of the golf schedule next year sees the US PGA moved to May and the cash-rich FedEx Cup series finished by the end of August. European No.1 Molinari plans to start 2019 at the Tournament Of Champions in Hawaii next month but has yet to decide whether to play the British Masters in May – the week before the US PGA – which is hosted by his Ryder Cup partner Tommy Fleetwood. “We need to negotiate how many nights in bed I get with him! We will see,” he said.

The world No.7 added: “I don’t know when my first event here will be. It might be something before the Open or it might be something after the season in the US is over. “Majors and WGCs count on the European Tour but it might be that the first proper European Tour event I play is in September.” Molinari is up against gymnast Simone Biles, snowboarder and skiier Ester Ledecka and boxer Oleksandr Usyk in the international category. Online voting is open until 2pm today. “It would be a great recognition after 10 years of living here,” said the West Ham fan. “It feels like home.”